Like a Phoenix...

As heartbreaking as it was to watch the fire ravage Notre Dame, here are the rays of hope I've come away with in the days since:

This church, home to the Catholic religion in Paris, has been a destination for all people of faith worldwide, welcoming over 13 Million visitors a year. Those pilgrims, whether Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, or Muslim, have found awe and peace in this sacred space because belief is bigger than a building, belief is bigger than how or whom one worships. Like many houses of worship, Notre Dame had an indescribable ability to connect you to your belief in a higher power, a higher purpose, or even a higher calling. And, it will again!

When we work together, we do incredible things, just as the architects, stone masons, and craftspeople did when they first created Notre Dame 850 years ago.  Remember this the next time you grow impatient, remember this the next time you watch the news.  Remember that we are a community...local, state, national, and global.  Each of us has a stake in what we become and our desires for that manifestation should not be at the expense of another community member.

Instead, practice peace.  Practice compassion.  Practice love.  It will be these virtues that will allow us, like the Phoenix, to rise from the ashes.

---

---