The Church

This morning I woke up with a mission in mind…a mission to do some serious exploring. Obviously this city has so many historical sights, so many museums, so many funky little stores and restaurants…it’s a gold mine for simply wandering.

But for me, it just isn’t that easy.

Here is a prime example. I wanted to explore that jungle place under the pyramid then head out of the area and check more places out. I started out with breakfast at the corner place (more on that later). The weather was perfect so instead of taking the metro I decided to walk it again. And I am so glad I did…nice light breeze, beautiful sunshine, and just warm enough.

I eventually made it over to the park and tried to figure out how to get in. After a bit of searching I saw people streaming onto an escalator going way down underground. Oddly enough there was a guy at the top searching our bags. Perhaps the London bomb scare? Perhaps…I didn’t ask. Needless to say whatever I had with me was OK.

Turns out that under that park and church is a pretty huge shopping mall. They had all kinds of things down there…store obviously, but also a movie theatre, a funky and disappointing museum, a giant pool/gym, and…the jungle.

The jungle was a big let down I’m afraid. You couldn’t get in to see it and what I could see was really dusty. Oh well. Mission accomplished regardless.

I came out again on the other side of the park, right at the side entrance to the church.

The church was…wow. Pretty much indescribable. I sat for a while sitting on the stone steps by the side entrance…enjoying the cool breeze and watching the people walk by. I spent at least an hour there sitting in quiet contemplation of where I was. The stone steps I was sitting on…I could feel their age. It was nearly overwhelming to just sit and think how many people had walked on those rocks…how many people from so many walks of life…with so many thoughts on their minds. History, what we read at least, is full of stories of major events…wars, discoveries, failures, and events that changed the world. But right there…I didn’t think about all that. I thought of all the simple people with their simple forgotten lives…the ones that didn’t make it into the history books…the ones that carried the stones there, that got married inside, that stopped for countless and unimaginable lunches. Dear lord, how many sandwiches had been eaten there? How many people, just like me, had sat there and just…just watched? It created a huge sense of safety in me honestly. A feeling of belonging to something so huge and complex…significant yet insignificant. It was wonderful.

So after snapping a couple pictures I had to go inside.

The church is obviously going through some major renovations, but it still is a functioning place of worship. Inside there were old chairs all laid out…waiting for service. I don’t know enough about religion to name the bits and pieces…but it was all there.

The ceiling…I’m talking at least 7 stories up and ornately carved. There were statues everywhere, stained glass, you name it. My words and pictures will be completely unable to give any weight to the immensity and beauty of the place.

I’m not a religious person. I’ve never been an avid church patron. But in all my life I have never before felt such a presence of…there simply isn't a word to use here. Of awe. Of wonder. It was both humbling and uplifting at the same time.

Glorious.

I discovered something about myself today. Yes I do love the vastness of this place…of all places. I love the countless areas to explore and touch, taste, smell, experience. But I learned that one doesn’t need always need to go to “the place” to see “that sight”. Don’t get me wrong…I want to see those places…the places everyone talks about. But sometimes even the corner restaurant or the market down the street, or the view out your own window is enough to fill you with a sense of awe. Ain’t life grand?