So lovely to be hearing this during the queen's final procession into St George's chapel at Windsor. My beloved Chantel wanted to have the BBC coverage on, and I escaped into the garden at times (for some much avoided chores).
The Westminster Abbey ceremony only confirmed my feelings of the complete disconnect with what I experience as true divinity but some later perspectives from people like celebrity gardener Alan Titchmarsh reinforced the very human and dutiful side which I realised from A Royal Night Out where she and Margaret manage to disappear for hours in amongst the public at the VE Day celebrations: probably her last real freewheeling night out for more than 70 years.
I appreciate your take on all power structures as being something subconsciously sought after and potentially benign. Also, I recognise the potential of Charles III to influence the development of green and redemptive solutions to our situation. I guess he will continue give relevance to this ancient institution tho I really think it is only God that can save us - and that only if we [all humanity] give up empire and carry the same prayer - whatever that would be.
It's funny, I grew up hearing evangelicals bash what they saw as "cold ritual" in high churches. I found so much of evangelicalism flat and aesthetically lacking, and I loved the high church Anglican tradition. It's part of the reason I became an Episcopalian 20 years ago, though even our best cathedrals (St. John the Divine in NYC, Grace Cathedral in SF, Washington National Cathedral) don't begin to rival the Abbey or York Minster or any of those places. Sometimes it gets old and loses its juice for me I need a break from it.
There is also, or course, a very real, and equally powerful connection in the cathedrals of the forests and mountaintops. But when I am in the ancient cathedrals of Europe, I think about the generations of craftsman who lovingly built those places— and whole cities were involved in the construction of those cathedrals, and generally excited about it. And I also feel centuries of prayers permeating the stone walls.
But of course we each have our own preferences, and places where we're able to find God. :) I agree that it is only God that can save us, but I also believe that we are the cells of God's body.
Beautiful; I couldn't agree more. I also have confidence that King Charles will be a memorable and inspiring monarch.
I just subscribed. (Smile)
Wow! What an inspiring piece of writing. Thanks so much for bringing out all this much needed nuances and information. So much needed in this time.
So lovely to be hearing this during the queen's final procession into St George's chapel at Windsor. My beloved Chantel wanted to have the BBC coverage on, and I escaped into the garden at times (for some much avoided chores).
The Westminster Abbey ceremony only confirmed my feelings of the complete disconnect with what I experience as true divinity but some later perspectives from people like celebrity gardener Alan Titchmarsh reinforced the very human and dutiful side which I realised from A Royal Night Out where she and Margaret manage to disappear for hours in amongst the public at the VE Day celebrations: probably her last real freewheeling night out for more than 70 years.
I appreciate your take on all power structures as being something subconsciously sought after and potentially benign. Also, I recognise the potential of Charles III to influence the development of green and redemptive solutions to our situation. I guess he will continue give relevance to this ancient institution tho I really think it is only God that can save us - and that only if we [all humanity] give up empire and carry the same prayer - whatever that would be.
It's funny, I grew up hearing evangelicals bash what they saw as "cold ritual" in high churches. I found so much of evangelicalism flat and aesthetically lacking, and I loved the high church Anglican tradition. It's part of the reason I became an Episcopalian 20 years ago, though even our best cathedrals (St. John the Divine in NYC, Grace Cathedral in SF, Washington National Cathedral) don't begin to rival the Abbey or York Minster or any of those places. Sometimes it gets old and loses its juice for me I need a break from it.
There is also, or course, a very real, and equally powerful connection in the cathedrals of the forests and mountaintops. But when I am in the ancient cathedrals of Europe, I think about the generations of craftsman who lovingly built those places— and whole cities were involved in the construction of those cathedrals, and generally excited about it. And I also feel centuries of prayers permeating the stone walls.
But of course we each have our own preferences, and places where we're able to find God. :) I agree that it is only God that can save us, but I also believe that we are the cells of God's body.
Beautiful. Thank you for expressing this, it's given me something to think about.
Omg Rebekah this is gorgeous and brings many tears, so needed. Thank you
Thank you for this thought provoking article.