Ive had lots of competing thoughts. The first one was neatly summed up by Ben who was listening to coverage in the car on the radio as we went to his guitar lesson. ' It's just a building!!' Yes, exactly. Just a building.
But, it was started in 1160 and took nearly 100 years to build. With no modern technology and very little understanding of things like mathematical equations and geometry. There are so few buildings around which are so old and have cost so much in terms of man hours and lives to build - so the loss of it is sad and new-worthy. But it can be rebuilt, and it has suffered various fires and damage and repairs in the past. Its all part of its story.
Secondly I was so saddened to hear that the cathedral had been in need of 1.5 million euros worth of repairs to stop it crumbling to dust and was struggling to find people to invest in it. Yet the day after it is nearly razed to the ground billionaires are coming forward offering cash to restore it. Why did it take disaster before people wanted to invest in their national landmark?
Thirdly, there is something going on in France. I dont pretend to keep up with international politics, but the yellow vest protests have been in the news, and of course France has been playing a major role in the Brexit negotiations. There is a weird disconnect between the fact that France has separated the church from the state and is striving to be a secular nation, and the outpouring of emotion about the cathedral fire. I have felt in the past when there have been major fires in the UK that God's hand has not been far away. It is as though He wants to get the attention of an entire nation by sending down fire. I dont know what He is saying to France at this time but He most definitely has something to say. Perhaps He just wants to show the world that there is no such thing as a secular state and that people still value and treasure their spiritual heritage regardless of whether the state wants to acknowledge this or not.
Fourthly we are in Holy Week and the photograph of the cross shining out in the midst of the smouldering rubble is a powerful image of hope. Out of the grave comes forth life. In the midst of death and darkness is light and hope.
I like what the Queen said in her message to the French people - she said she was sad for the people who worshipped there. Yes, because before it was a tourist attraction and an ancient monument it was a place of worship. The reason it is such a magnificent edifice is that for a hundred years people who fervently believed they were called by God to use their talents to build it, worshipped Him in their crafts to create a beautiful house of prayer. And ever since, people have stepped inside the lofty, vaulted ailses to gaze upon the beautiful stained glass and sit in prayer or listen to a choir singing and still their hearts before their creator.
Perhaps the fire will cause the people of Paris to examine their hearts and realise that they have lost touch with the God for whom Notre Dame was built. I am sure the Spirit of God is calling to people across the city of Paris this week and reminding them that they are spiritual beings, made for communion with Him, designed to worship and with a heritage in God which goes back centuries. He is calling that over us too.
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