Heaven

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Seven years ago I was asked by a friend if I was "religious and if I believed in God?" As a (formerly) practicing agnostic I quickly answered:"no." However, I defended myself by explaining that I lived my life according to universal principals of "right and wrong" (as I understood them). Because I believed that our deeds create a lasting effect on the world, I felt confident in my everlasting future. In other words, I wasn't worried about there being a heaven or not. I told my friend that when I die, I am banking on knowing that my impact on the world will be ever lasting. My "heaven" will ultimately be the creation of the the sum total of all my actions.

" M! o2 r3 a) o/ X* u5 U, a! ? I will never forget my friend's response: he looked at me with glassy eyes, and told me how deeply spiritual I was. I didn't see it. It took five more years to see what he meant. Such was the inspiration of the following poem I wrote.

" b- z2 ]* u2 m6 [- U- e! I) n Heaven
The pebble is worn smooth
Made small over time
1 {& i" v  a8 O# c: f* R A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
+ v+ q- c; U4 }) K7 w/ G, x; W A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
% h$ v& Q' W% U- X; N9 } An accidental offspring of a boulder
9 l6 q3 n3 l1 Z But just a very small stone.
. v( t# G: P0 e
* ^& i7 ~/ F+ E- q6 K The pebble's place in our world
$ H2 ^; ^8 c  P6 ` Is neither understood nor appreciated
4 q6 M$ L& m5 Z, C- I6 o0 c2 j But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
2 g- G- J' J$ _2 j0 }8 C Its insignificance is transformed
9 O& `: W. G" I- V Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
" ^& s1 d5 R& g  y3 o
" t/ f8 z3 l- M4 H The instant the pebble kisses the pond
Its signature of concentric ripples
, V: L  k# ?5 O. p+ V Spiral outwards
' h8 m5 U! D0 o. J Moving far beyond itself.
Gently affecting everything in its wake
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
! h! w! y' b6 P
6 L. v: j/ h5 Z. D& H1 v3 A The pebble creates its worth and meaning
By unleashing its unimagined power?
, o9 s+ q$ n) P3 ^* ~4 L Into a dueling force of action and reaction
Creating karmic energy
6 S+ s* G7 L2 o% |( i& C Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

2 P# ~: y6 \( w3 h, R! d Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
Can never be measured in isolation
* `. s/ p) n8 b& X! N  [' l" W4 I on a path into ourselves.
1 T# ~- h, l0 r8 \; i
It is true then:
Our everlasting future
/ K$ |4 H3 X9 Q: L4 x2 `5 _# U3 m Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
) Z) e7 A; f5 D1 n6 V Into the pond of life
8 O8 x8 h5 [# E8 v0 l7 V Creating ripples
$ B( q# P6 V, C$ l: u0 C that leave unique mark on our world
/ p8 o9 a( Q' _/ C. I* N! }, o Not because of thoughts
not because of well meaning plans
But because of actions.
0 I/ t5 F' V" A/ {& r' F( I0 \
Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
No matter how seemingly insignificant
, s) J+ u+ i+ \1 F- v  I6 t9 @ Changes the course of the lives
% n- A2 g' z9 U: G) C* P8 P3 T Of those we touch.?
! Y3 r7 R+ S2 l, V) }
And when the icy winds of death
0 Y% @; g. `$ W4 O: k2 f: u' V beckon our lasting attention
. u& l' W$ [, C0 B- _9 m We will gently leave this life
With the knowledge that
# C* J. y, f6 x/ Z' I because of that one pebble
  n1 E, S! J3 Y& Z  b( r The world will never be the same.
% H/ Z3 ]) u' @
$ r5 W$ M& j& k# X, i And then we have heaven …
8 N* g5 c2 f6 z2 ?1 R$ r1 ?
8 M# F' {, z' D, k7 |) U& h  V Ross Rosenberg
/ a+ I( R7 R% Q! W* { 8/18/03