Reverence and tourism

If you are expecting a side splitting story about gazpacho, well, you'll have to wait.  This isn't it.  But please, keep reading to hear about other great things.


On Tuesday we visited the world's first Gothic style cathedral - the Basilica of St. Denis.  St. Denis is the burial site for all but three French Kings, and numerous other French monarchs.  The stained glass designs were striking in their intricacy, and Dr. Bleattler said that one of them was probably the most beautiful one in France.  There is nothing like sitting in a grand cathedral that has been witness to the trials of so many centuries.  As I sat in the first row admiring the historic craftsmanship underneath the vaulted ceiling, I was in a pure state of awe and wonder.


As we have been visiting various historic sites, namely cathedrals (Notre Dame, St. Denis, and Sacre Coeur), I have been shocked at the lack of reverence people have while visiting these places of worship.  Tourists milled around at St. Denis snapping photos while pointing and chattering to each other.  There were a few prayerful visitors, but most people were going about in the usual tourist fashion.  As I thought more about why this bothered me, I realized that they were appreciating the apparent beauty of St. Denis, but not the reason for that beauty.  All these old cathedrals were ultimately built for worship.  God is the intended focal point, which is visible through the engravings, statues, and stained glass designs as nearly all of them feature Christ at their center.  St. Denis is breathtaking, and its purposeful artistry makes it is easy to enter into a prayerful state.  I found myself perplexed by the tourists, because they were not only were disruptive, but they missed the point.  They missed the message of Christ that was so clearly conveyed through the mere existence of the cathedral.  That message is also clearly (and beautifully) conveyed through the artistry of the stained glass scenes and sculptured walls.  How wonderful that this structure was built with the talent of human hands, but done with the intent to glorify God.  But to many people who walked through St. Denis, it is merely a beautiful old church and the burial site of French monarchs.  

These moments in St. Denis were ultimately a reflection of the reason we are here in Paris.  We are here because the focus has shifted away from God.  St. Denis is full of reminders that Christ is the center and source of life, and ought to be the center of our personal lives.  It is my prayer for our team that we will live that truth and show the French people Christ's love.  I ask that you would pray the same thing for us.

Merci,

Kristin