Another earthly system destined to fail. My husband brought up this morning that there is currently a Mexican cartel called Los Caballeros de Templar. It is so interesting to think how the Knights of Templar has a history and a mythology. The question is what if anything is worthwhile in either. What code outside of Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul is not destined to be bent in some fashion. Reading this concurrently with “Out of the Silent Planet” by CS Lewis is giving me lots to think about. I read the Song of Roland with students last year (admittedly we read, assigned by someone other than myself arguably the worst translation ever) and other than tickling their brain with reading what they perceived as a non-realistic report of a time and a place they couldn’t fathom they saw no value in reading of this type of “code of conduct.” I had a hard time contradicting them (admittedly could seriously be tied to the horrible translations we used). But King Arthur tales present a similar failure of a code created by man which also ends in a spectacular failure. I think my end conclusion so far in the enlightenment I have been so far allowed is that all systems fail. Only individual relationships have any hope and only those which are guaranteed by one who cannot fail.
It does seem that all institutions, no matter their well intentioned founding, generally go west at some point. I suppose that’s not necessarily a condemnation of any particular institution or is found, though, if that is a near universal truth. We have special successors of good endeavors, of not direct successors.
One of my favorite cathedrals - Ely Cathedral in England - was founded under the Rule of St. Benedict. It's absolutely gorgeous and the acoustics are incredible. I have had the honor of both performing with a choir and attending concerts there, and it is ethereal, especially by candlelight. The magnificence of the cathedral still bears witness to the dedication of those who worked tirelessly to build and care for it.
Another earthly system destined to fail. My husband brought up this morning that there is currently a Mexican cartel called Los Caballeros de Templar. It is so interesting to think how the Knights of Templar has a history and a mythology. The question is what if anything is worthwhile in either. What code outside of Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul is not destined to be bent in some fashion. Reading this concurrently with “Out of the Silent Planet” by CS Lewis is giving me lots to think about. I read the Song of Roland with students last year (admittedly we read, assigned by someone other than myself arguably the worst translation ever) and other than tickling their brain with reading what they perceived as a non-realistic report of a time and a place they couldn’t fathom they saw no value in reading of this type of “code of conduct.” I had a hard time contradicting them (admittedly could seriously be tied to the horrible translations we used). But King Arthur tales present a similar failure of a code created by man which also ends in a spectacular failure. I think my end conclusion so far in the enlightenment I have been so far allowed is that all systems fail. Only individual relationships have any hope and only those which are guaranteed by one who cannot fail.
It does seem that all institutions, no matter their well intentioned founding, generally go west at some point. I suppose that’s not necessarily a condemnation of any particular institution or is found, though, if that is a near universal truth. We have special successors of good endeavors, of not direct successors.
One of my favorite cathedrals - Ely Cathedral in England - was founded under the Rule of St. Benedict. It's absolutely gorgeous and the acoustics are incredible. I have had the honor of both performing with a choir and attending concerts there, and it is ethereal, especially by candlelight. The magnificence of the cathedral still bears witness to the dedication of those who worked tirelessly to build and care for it.
That’s pretty epic Cassie.
My dad performed there as well and says that it’s the closest we’ll get this side of heaven to hearing the angels worship. There’s nothing like it.