Those include music, poetry, stories, legends, rituals, images and symbols that carry meaning and importance. I fear sometimes in our own culture that we have lost sight of that in many ways. The message of music and poetry too often is shallow. Our images and symbols are poorly understood if at all. Even in a church filled with symbolic liturgy many have lost connection with and understanding of so many things that could help our souls find both meaning and direction.
Superficiality replaces depth.
Trends overshadow definition. Yet still our hearts long for that which touches our souls. Also, in spite of all that attempts to distract us, our hearts, if they are not too jaded or closed, do recognize those things in our lives that can do that. Thus it is important that in the midst of our lives we pause and allow ourselves to learn and to meditate on those things that can truly help us to understand both ourselves and the divine in a way that can connect our lives with the eternal. Today, I wish to speak of one of those symbols that has done that for a people for almost for 470 years since 1531.