Heaven

khfacdgku

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.

& g/ ^" X* f8 q6 z2 W% e$ U7 m. ~$ A3 J 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.
! Z6 Y% A2 p* c+ a+ r
" I7 w+ F" _# `) P1 y Heaven
The pebble is worn smooth
. A1 L4 i  l, R5 Z& @- \ Made small over time
8 Z0 X, N$ d9 y( T( v# Y A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
- i  O0 F/ }3 t2 i' b  ]; ?0 B1 { A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
& B4 i  }# @) s9 u An accidental offspring of a boulder
, ?+ S- n3 F( P; Q3 t But just a very small stone.

! N+ l* d+ M- m6 [ The pebble's place in our world
Is neither understood nor appreciated
$ j7 U2 c: b; v: d3 { But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
8 g+ U" h3 P; R8 G Its insignificance is transformed
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.

The instant the pebble kisses the pond
Its signature of concentric ripples
+ w1 N0 x* |9 J6 V6 W# i. Q Spiral outwards
Moving far beyond itself.
7 U2 n$ l; M; g) W0 \ Gently affecting everything in its wake
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
1 D5 F% a4 G0 W/ L7 @; R0 a' C9 G
6 x9 q  |" l3 \# g! y The pebble creates its worth and meaning
By unleashing its unimagined power?
! f9 g9 X7 @* m* W# v Into a dueling force of action and reaction
Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

Aren't we all pebbles?
- k! ?% M, ]4 F. _0 a  w, D4 |# U: ` Feeling small and insignificant
7 a* U) w* l. Z5 O But ultimately recognizing
; l5 H8 C! D& }: t/ e That who we are meant to be
, Q1 F1 P0 S& n+ K% d0 B6 l7 v( b Can never be measured in isolation
- C5 b3 |! ^; d7 S on a path into ourselves.
) W5 E: @1 t" L
It is true then:
Our everlasting future
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
, N' \" {$ p9 m4 `0 R Into the pond of life
5 C8 ^+ P1 h0 G3 } Creating ripples
that leave unique mark on our world
( S3 ~4 t/ U: P* R! Q Not because of thoughts
3 @1 N% u' }6 ]# b not because of well meaning plans
But because of actions.
" W. g/ _' g0 Z  ]
7 E1 |9 }5 \* Z' ?6 v Our life's prayers our answered
1 J% c$ b$ K) W4 {4 y: A5 ] Because even the smallest pebble
3 a- A# Z% e  X: p) q No matter how seemingly insignificant
Changes the course of the lives
Of those we touch.?

* S+ b0 P6 w) s5 r$ g& [! x And when the icy winds of death
beckon our lasting attention
: D/ K; ]9 j# e" E0 w% |/ S We will gently leave this life
6 ]4 g$ V. d: o3 i% \: } With the knowledge that
5 |3 b/ A! c3 E! d because of that one pebble
The world will never be the same.

; R4 A* U% J/ Z: u$ D And then we have heaven …
2 z, V9 \5 k$ V1 ^% G; Y) {9 r* t
Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03