A CNN presenter closed his program about great architecture
with this statement, “We all yearn for light, space, and beauty.”
I agree. I love architecture and have had the privilege of
seeing many great buildings. Some are ancient or are patterned after ancient
themes. And some, like one of my personal favorites, the Guggenheim Museum in
Bilbao, Spain, are very modern and sculptural. I love the play of light outside
and inside a wonderful structure. I enjoy surprises in architecture, like the
off-centered spot of light inside the Toledo cathedral (also in Spain, finished
in 1493). I love how spaces are defined by light. I also appreciate a truly
beautiful building. My vote for the most beautiful one I ever saw would go to
the Opéra in Paris. There’s no way to describe it! Many soft colors of marble, the
symmetry, the mixture of marble and dark bronze, its forms, sculpture . . . .
It is truly beautiful.
The presenter’s statement about everyone yearning for light,
space, and beauty prompted me to ponder what the Bible says about God.
LIGHT God is
light, and in him is no darkness at all (from 1 John 1:5).
SPACE But who is able to build him an house,
seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? (2 Chronicles 2:6a)
It
is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth (This sounds like a photo
from outer space!), and the inhabitants
thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and
spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in
(Isaiah 40:22).
BEAUTY One thing have I desired of the LORD, that
will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my
life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple (Psalm
27:4).
The next time I contemplate fabulous
architecture here on earth, I’ll consider Him Who is light and is beautiful and
can’t be contained by space.
Neat analogy!
ReplyDelete