RETURNING REVERENCE TO IT’S RIGHTFUL PLACE

There’s a scent of reverence in the air, of returning reverence after a long pause.

It started in my doctor’s office where I’d been called to sit on a panel with others.

One of the others was Roy Pittman, one of my personal heroes.

The next time I saw the doctor he told me he was surprised at the way I acted, that I showed reverence to Coach Pittman.

If I did, I didn’t know it. What I remember is feeling awe-struck. Maybe it’s the same thing?

Returning reverence to its rightful place is not a job description of moving something, or a making room.

It’s not a library book, it’s a feeling.

I remember stepping into the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles Palace outside Paris thinking how spectacular and enormous it looked in pictures like this.

 

The day I was there it looked small and crowded, not as reverential as I expected.

 

A loud crowd packed the hallway and shuffled along.

Instead of a quiet, introspective moment, I found a subway station at rush hour with an attention span dialed up to get a load of French culture.

Or something.

 

Where To Find Reverence

Most church services come with a side of reverence, of peace and quiet.

Just walking into a church any time carries the feeling.

I went to a Catholic service with my Catholic girlfriend once, entering the aisle and turning into the pew with no warming of the kneeling bar.

I tripped over the bar and flopped on the bench and heard two old ladies behind me having a laugh.

I figured they’d seen a few protestants take the same dive over the years.

 

Another time I went to a mega-church service with my wife’s friend.

The clergyman invited anyone feeling the power of the Lord to stand and come down to the front at the same time the lady in front of me had a seizure and fell on the ground.

I stood up to see if she needed help and the minister started yelling to come down and be saved.

The lady in front of me twitched around while the minister continued yelling.

Without looking up I asked my wife: Is he talking to me?

Wife: He’s looking right at you and pointing.

Me: Oh, boy.

I tapped the people sitting next to the lady on the ground and whispered ‘Is she okay?”

Them: This happens every Sunday. She’s fine.

I waved to the minister and pointed down to the ground and gave him the ‘Okay’ sign just as another person closer to him fell out of their chair.

I sat down and tied my shoe. Or was I ducking down?

Either way, if the minister still had me his sights I was ready to hit the ground and roll.

 

Returning Reverence To St. Paul’s Cathedral 

My wife and I, typical baby boomers for the most part, like going into churches.

We walked into a church in Barcelona side by side and in the blink of an eye she disappeared.

One second we were together, the next I was surrounded by pilgrims with their heads and hair covered in shawls.

She was still beside me, just transformed by reverence.

 

I was seeking the same when we walked around St. Paul’s in London.

Ah, the peace. Ah, the quiet. Ah, what the hell?

There’s a leak in the dome draining straight through a vent in the floor and giving Lord Nelson’s sarcophagus a good shower.

 

 

The reverence I felt there was for the old sailer getting another taste of the sea.

And a little mold.

 

Simple Reverence In Mt. Angel

This is a beautiful room even without the ornate objects and decorations accumulated over the centuries in other churches.

It speaks of the reverence reserved for places sacred and holy.

For some it’s a church, for others it’s Fenway Park, or Madison Square Garden.

Yankee Stadium has a museum, which are always reverential.

 

Inside Yankee Stadium, the Yankee Museum is a must-visit for baseball history enthusiasts.

The museum features exhibits on the team’s 27 World Series championships, game-worn memorabilia, and historic artifacts such as Thurman Munson’s locker.

Rotating exhibits keep the experience fresh for returning visitors.

 

PS: 

The White House has always seemed like a place of reverence, where great leaders have found the comfort and solace needed to make world changing decisions.

Last night the place was overrun by bloody hooligans in bicycle shorts fighting in an MMA octagon. I watched every match thinking it would be better off held in a different location.

Most people take their party to an event, not bring the event to themselves.

These weren’t most people, they were elected officials.

 

PSS:

It’s been awhile since the last major blood letting event happened in D.C.

The founding fathers are still processing that one.

Were they worried the boss might send the crowd out on a similar mission to the Capitol?

Yes, they were.