Places That Touch Our Souls
I love places that make you realize how tinyyou – and your problems – are. --Anonymous
At times in our lives,we find places that touch our souls, where we feel at home, where we have asense of joy and peace. I’ve found what Icall my Soul Places in a number of spots around the world – ranging from my owngardens to a special beach to a number of sacred structures including NotreDame in Paris. When I’m in those places, I feel rooted, peaceful, a sense ofbelonging and of being “home.” Those places recharge my batteries and holda spiritual significance for me.
It’s interesting that I felt a connection to Notre Dame long before I ever went to Paris. Perhaps it was my high school French teacher who lived in Paris during the summer and showed us photos of every corner of the City of Light. I even found a book about the history of the lengthy building of Notre Dame, which was in existence since 1180 and completed in 1260. I read every word of that book – knowing implicitly that I was somehow connected to that monumental Cathedral.
So whenI started going often to Paris, I would immediately go to the Ile de la Cite,the island in the middle of the Seine River. I couldn’t wait to see the exquisitebeauty of the Cathedral of Notre Dame with its intricate carvings representingthe history of the church and its tall, breathtaking spire and flyingbuttresses.
Sadly, theCathedral caught fire during Holy Week in 2019. The world watched in horror as theorange flames leapt through the roof. It felt unreal. I’m sure many of us wonderedhow a stone church could burn. And when the beautiful spire fell, I foundmyself weeping with the people of Paris.
Oftenwhen I visited Notre Dame, I walked in the gardens behind the Cathedral – oneof the most peaceful places in Paris. I will always remember sitting in thegarden and looking up at the buttresses and feeling very small next to them.
I’veheard people describe Notre Dame as the beating heart of Paris. Inside thechurch, the air is filled with centuries of prayers, incense, songs, joys,sorrows. On one of my visits I prayed for a dear friend who was suffering froma very aggressive cancer. I could almost feel the Cathedral lifting my prayersto heaven.
For me, NotreDame is a Soul Place that feels like it will always be there. Although thespire fell, and the roof burned, Notre Dame still stands. The building is very importantto me because it holds many memories for me and for others. It’s probably whyParisians wept and sang near the cathedral, even if they hadn’t set foot in itfor years. It’s likely why people around the world, many of whom neverworshipped there, started looking at their own memories. Yes, Notre Dame willalways be a Soul Place for me. And I believe it stands as a work of praise toGod.
* Do youhave places that touch your soul?
* Do youthink of them often and try to get to them from time to time?
Beloved Soul Maker. Thank you forthe gifts of Soul Places in our lives. May we unlock our hearts and minds tothem and to their healing touch for us. May we be open to other places that cantouch us deeply. Lord, we give You thanks for Your endless gifts of Soul Placesin the world. May we be worthy of recognizing and receiving them. Amen.
JoyCarol