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.

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.
1 w  u6 Q  `8 _% N' w: R
6 R( |  A3 \& {- r4 ]; Z Heaven
/ ^4 z0 t! P& I/ \5 R The pebble is worn smooth
Made small over time
3 i  C8 e8 B7 F6 p0 L" ?, t: ^+ [  Q A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
6 p- A0 l$ N. c) c& ]3 ~ A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
* a& k! e* N. ]8 b8 `1 ?/ `5 a! e6 [ An accidental offspring of a boulder
2 m1 I% n2 {# w But just a very small stone.

The pebble's place in our world
6 c- p. b; p4 E Is neither understood nor appreciated
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
, a( N* \6 r/ U3 b' g/ T& P Its insignificance is transformed
6 m& ~9 u& P& {1 _ Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.

The instant the pebble kisses the pond
Its signature of concentric ripples
Spiral outwards
Moving far beyond itself.
Gently affecting everything in its wake
+ C# k2 X- u% i% r7 O6 e# V! R( G4 C Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
5 _8 Y* W) B$ i% F' @0 G+ n
- r5 _: a& @8 g4 z+ |/ d0 W, l8 j: c0 v3 g The pebble creates its worth and meaning
2 q' c. `3 k' t By unleashing its unimagined power?
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
1 Z+ `! n2 z1 T, N$ k  c! B Creating karmic energy
& \+ n5 z& d7 `  k- { Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

  L8 [. A' c8 S, ~8 r Aren't we all pebbles?
% Q6 X6 V, w" E' y  O% | Feeling small and insignificant
- e1 i0 n' L. u" J But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
% e, k* H/ P6 V3 p. z& H Can never be measured in isolation
- m+ ^, n4 h/ z& G& R# | on a path into ourselves.
7 v1 O- U; D" D# M9 w: P
It is true then:
/ d% Y& F. A) X' q# b1 R) p Our everlasting future
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
1 Z; z# c, n2 O  V% L, c  i  d/ v Into the pond of life
Creating ripples
4 R9 K  f8 Z: `# G( Q that leave unique mark on our world
) f: D( Y% y: ^5 I5 i( I Not because of thoughts
* ^" M2 |% R8 i, F  ? not because of well meaning plans
But because of actions.
3 `5 L) g2 t: {  }' C
Our life's prayers our answered
/ P0 k- F) G$ p2 [  R1 e* O. S Because even the smallest pebble
No matter how seemingly insignificant
Changes the course of the lives
Of those we touch.?
3 q; ?/ s9 {& ]. ]0 J! G
And when the icy winds of death
beckon our lasting attention
- ~, W# R$ i4 g# |9 J) q We will gently leave this life
With the knowledge that
because of that one pebble
The world will never be the same.
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+ k' d  o2 J0 `2 i' o And then we have heaven …

Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03