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.
2 q1 k7 G( T# l3 D
* M6 ]5 Q2 ?  I% F. z: p 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.
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Heaven
The pebble is worn smooth
Made small over time
2 Y0 w* ^+ e' b& S A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
" f  u& J1 C% M6 ~8 G- b A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
An accidental offspring of a boulder
But just a very small stone.

1 q) t, n; U: h  b8 g" d5 F The pebble's place in our world
& o5 t2 K1 s" ]: p6 f; G0 E3 S3 B Is neither understood nor appreciated
, `$ s$ q& Z0 p2 [ But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
* c# L( }' k, m$ K& s/ B Its insignificance is transformed
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.

* J6 \" N( w$ P$ ~, x. f+ e4 ` The instant the pebble kisses the pond
6 A7 B' S7 A& a- C5 V Its signature of concentric ripples
) g" ?0 \/ |, ?' Z Spiral outwards
Moving far beyond itself.
Gently affecting everything in its wake
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.

: ^- a- ?( h0 d2 K The pebble creates its worth and meaning
By unleashing its unimagined power?
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

/ _1 N: Y) I9 _/ o' Q/ D8 N' x0 G+ [ Aren't we all pebbles?
' \# e$ y6 d& q) A! R' m$ D* a Feeling small and insignificant
But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
, y3 s+ N4 {" L$ D. y6 W Can never be measured in isolation
on a path into ourselves.

" U+ u0 ]4 j; u" s) T6 P0 O3 v) w9 v It is true then:
Our everlasting future
3 ]" O3 D+ r$ s+ ~' ]' N Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
' S- ^9 Z- e  ~1 ^' Y3 N; X Into the pond of life
Creating ripples
! n6 Z* C! q% ? that leave unique mark on our world
1 S# u' ~# }) }8 |5 F! j) J$ A Not because of thoughts
not because of well meaning plans
, o% Z9 }9 e/ s; b8 Q But because of actions.

7 I9 Y* f. ~9 ~ Our life's prayers our answered
& `7 I1 L9 {' U8 ^% J& R3 l Because even the smallest pebble
0 S/ u$ V, \1 x7 | No matter how seemingly insignificant
% f$ s5 n6 K; I5 k( [' L Changes the course of the lives
' w! `! a! H3 l/ \4 k# s1 X" {8 F. s Of those we touch.?
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+ ~5 {5 b0 w& M( G2 F And when the icy winds of death
beckon our lasting attention
We will gently leave this life
With the knowledge that
4 r6 e( V6 I" }* `& D/ X because of that one pebble
0 F* y" \$ ?/ f$ M The world will never be the same.

And then we have heaven …

Ross Rosenberg
: j' L& v7 `; Y/ p6 j* @- k" j2 O3 b 8/18/03