Notre Dame: More than a Building

Today as I watched in shock and horror while the flames ravaged the roof of the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral, I tried to console myself with the words, "it's just a building." But that's not really true.

An album page from our 2002 visit that includes the spire

We visited Notre Dame when our four children ranged in age from nine to fourteen. We marveled at the gargoyles and flying buttresses. While studying French in Paris in 2007 I worshiped at the cathedral on the Sunday I arrived, gathering that evening with the faithful.

In the midst of this tragedy commentators are noting the architectural wonders of flying buttresses and a rib vault, the rose windows, all the unique and stunning elements set the cathedral apart. Much history has transpired within and around it, and it has survived previous difficulties, but nothing like this fire.

Tuning in towards the beginning of the blaze, I hoped the fire could be quenched quickly, but soon the beautiful spire toppled into the building below as enormous orange yellow clouds of smoke billowed into the air. Thankfully the 400 firefighters were able to save the main stone structure and the iconic front bell towers remain.

As I write this just hours after the incident, the future of Notre Dame Cathedral remains uncertain. The French President Macron has vowed to rebuild, and I hope this is possible. This landmark steadies the city as importantly as the Eiffel Tower, and has a more important purpose.

We can easily forget Notre Dame doesn't exist simply for tourists and history buffs or architect fans. A congregation uses this building, and this happened on the Monday of Holy Week. Just as when people lose the house they live in, Notre Dame serves as their spiritual home.

Often people say, "the church is not the building, it's the people." Accurate, but then, our body is not just a body, it is how we exist in the world, and a church building is how a congregation gathers in the community. The building serves as a reminder of faith, as a place to come for solace, and when it's a church like Notre Dame, even pilgrimage.

I am grateful that as of this writing, no lives were lost in this tragedy. Yet the loss of this spiritual and cultural icon looms large. I hope with President Macron, that like the Lord of this Cathedral, Notre Dame will rise again.

Aging: It Beats the Alternative?

When young, our definition of old may be quite a low number. I definitely remember thinking I didn't want to get "too" old. But as the years go by, our perspective typically shifts. Whereas 50 used to seem old, now 90 fits that description.

I had the interesting experience of two great grandfathers that lived to be 100, and grandparents that reached their 90s. Such a heritage caused me to reset my expectations on life expectancy. Why not go for three digits?

Then before I even lost any of my grandparents, my mom died at 66, unexpectedly and needlessly. Dad contracted lung cancer from smoking and died after a three month awareness of his diagnosis, at only 71. Recently I've had several friends die in their 40s and 50s. And this year I'm facing turning 60.

I didn't mind those other milestone birthdays. I welcomed 50, because I had heard at 50 you could stop worrying about what people think, and I said bring that on. However I've been dreading this one. Perhaps part of it means entering the decade I lost my mom. Considering when to retire. Facing declining health and appearance. Lots of life changes ahead, some welcome, some dreaded.

I've been content to let my hair gray, have no intention of having any "work" done, so as I age, that's how I'll look. I'm finding that more difficult to accept than I expected, preferring to still appear young and healthy. I've typically been guessed to be ten years younger than I really am, but even at that rate, I will eventually look old.

So I'm trying to learn to accept that as not being a curse. Our culture values youth, but the Bible praises the wisdom of the aged. I don't dislike people for "looking old," so why do I think I will lose status for that same thing?

My heart was encouraged last week by visiting my uncle. He's my mother's brother, and since I can't take my grandkids to see her, I wanted them to meet her brother. Uncle Jim is 82 and suffering from Parkinson's disease so he is losing ground. But his wit and humor remain, his impish smile, his kindness as he dragged out toys for my granddaughter to enjoy. As we prepared to leave he helped pick up the toys as well.

She enjoyed playing with him, and when it was time to go, she even gave him a hug. Back at her house, she kept talking about Bapa Jim (as she dubbed him, her grandpa name coupled with his first name) and how he had toys to play with. She liked Aunt Mahnaz too, who's only in her 60s, but it was Bapa Jim she talked about later.

When I looked back at the family shot I had taken, one of them shows her looking at him intently.She was undeterred by his age or physical condition. Through the eyes of a child he was a welcome playmate.

And at the moment it's those eyes that matter to me. I want to be able to enjoy my grandchildren, those I have now and those to come. Visiting my uncle reassures me that is still possible, well beyond 60.

Somehow it's challenging to age past my own parents, but I hope I have the privilege of doing that. They say ageing beats the alternative, and I think that's true, until it isn't. A day comes when heading home to Jesus beats the condition life has become for us, and that happens at different times for different people. Until I know otherwise, I'm hoping for a long delay.

So meanwhile I have to accept the inevitable signs of aging with grace, and focus on what I can still do and be. God still has work for me. I still find ways to help my grown children. And most fun of all I enjoy these grandchildren for whom I am Ganny. Best role yet, and may it last for decades to come.

What a Car Can Mean

This car has been parked in the church lot behind our house for weeks. It's not road worthy, the license is not attached, so it can't be parked on a street. The owners hide it behind this church so the police don't tow it. When they need the car, they take off the tarps keeping rain out of the broken windows, laying the wood on the parking lot while they are gone. When they return from their errands, they replace the tarps and wood to protect the car, and carry their wares to their home.

The average middle class person can afford a car with windows and headlights and a license plate that they can park conveniently in front of their home. Often middle class and upper class folks complain that those without means expect to be taken care of, and should find a job.

Working usually requires transportation. In my city the only train system is a limited rail downtown more for tourists. The busses mostly run downtown, which is not where work can be found for the typical person without high skills. So the average person trying to get out of poverty, needs a car. But how to pay for one? If they can scrape some money together, the car may look like this.

One of my parishioners has a serviceable car, and the head gasket recently blew. Where does she get the extra funds to repair the car on her wages from waiting tables? And people often fail to tip. If she doesn't fix the car, and doesn't get to her job, she has no income at all. Such a vicious cycle.

People without means to buy cars need public transportation that goes to parts of the city with work and that remains affordable. Care about such matters, even if you don't personally need to use it. Support busses and trains in city budgets and measures to make the affordable to those who depend on them. Wanna help someone you know with these issues? Buy a bus card so they can get started on their job search and save for a car. Consider donating your used car when you are ready to upgrade to someone who needs it or an organization who provides cars for people, instead of getting that tiny amount the dealer offers for a trade in. You could make the difference for someone who needs a car to start working. These concrete matters impact others. The next time you're ready to buy that sweet ride, find a good home for the old one.