Values that Endure

Canterbury Cathedral

I spent a lot of hours in cathedrals this summer: Canterbury, Chartres, Nortre Dame de Paris, St. Peter's, and Albi. Built between the 12th and 18th centuries these massive structures took hundreds of years to complete. Thousands of artisans over several generations cut block, colored glass, carved marble, crafted gems and finally combined all of the elements to create these lavish and ornate churches.  They were constructed at the center of villages, adjacent to rivers, filled with natural light filtered through stained glass windows, and with spires towering above the tallest buildings of the community.  They remain witnesses to the deep faith of their builders: God is central and all things hold together in him; God quenches the thirst of the parched soul; God gives light to those in darkness; God forgives sins; God welcomes the penitent and hears the prayers of the people. 

Most of Europe's Cathedrals are old, weathered and deteriorating. And yet, they host millions of tourists each year. For some visitors these monoliths are mere museums or remnants of a time long past.  For others they are simply one more photo op, the place to get a "selfie" for posting on Facebook or Instagram. For a still smaller group these ancient churches remain touchstones to God's word and sacraments where friends and members of their community gather weekly to worship and pray.    

For me the ancient cathedrals embody something more: values that endure.  For me the ancient core values which gave rise to the cathedral remain strong and spirited in our modern churches. Whether large or small, hosting altars or simple stage platforms, using pipe organs or electronic guitars, the church continues to exhibit deep faith, walk in the footsteps of Jesus, live more fully into the way of justice, kindness and humility and serve rather than be served. 

These are the values that endure.

At the same time, I often find these ancient values at odds with the prevailing values of the culture and the practices which increasingly replace the "God-centered" life with "something-else" centered life. 

These "something-else" practices are everywhere evident.

• Government offices, financial institutions, and costly high-rise apartments dominate the skyline rising from the ashes of once grand churches.

• Sports figures and financial executives receive the highest salaries and bonuses while the gap between the wealthy and those at the margins grows wider.

• Large denominational congregations report thousands of people worshiping with them on a given weekend while ten times that  many people crowd the local arenas, bars and restaurants for entertainment during that same seventy-two hours.

• The amount that households spend on entertainment continues to rise; charitable giving increases too but at a slower rate.

• Our lists of heroes seldom include elementary school teachers, nursing assistants, clerical and social workers, custodians, those who clean our hotel rooms, level 4 lab techs, missionaries, specialists who write code for our electronic devices, music coaches, sanitation engineers, parents or grandparents.

• Dialogues on issues dear to all members of the community have been replaced by monologues delivered only to those who share the same point of view.  Sound bites and talking points dominate our conversations and turn them into arguments. 

• "MY" and "ME" have replaced "our" and "we."  "MY way ... MY point of view, neighborhood, religion, school, friend, country, candidate, party ... MY way or the highway!"   

What to do?

Pilgrimage marker Canterbury to Rome

Building new high rise cathedrals at the center of our cities is not the way forward.  

However ...  

• laying a foundation of cathedral values and building our own lives upon them 
• living a God-centered life 
• seeking daily to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly

... these "better practices" will move us in the right direction.