April 16: On this melancholy morning in the aftermath of the fire at Notre Dame, I am thinking of my visit to Paris in 2017. I stayed in Hotel Des Carmes not far from the Sorbonne. When I arrived I was given an upgrade to a room on the top floor. After what seemed like a 15 minute elevator ride to the 5th floor, imagine my pleasant surprise to discover a view of le Pantheon, la Tour Eiffel, and, of course, Notre Dame from a small balcony carved into the mansard roof. It was a bit surreal and I spent quite a while propped on a chair squeezed onto the balcony reminding myself that it was real.
One evening I went down to Notre Dame after the crowds of tourists had dissipated to see a video on the construction of the cathedral. There was a relatively small audience and it felt a bit like a private screening for invited guests. The video was thoughtful and thorough. It gave me new insight to the structure of the church itself, and the many things it has witnessed over the centuries as it stood in the centre of Paris. As I left, there was a sweet half-moon peeking over the rooftops and I thought of my Dad and how much he would have enjoyed being in France – being at Notre Dame.
I’ve visited Notre Dame many times and it has always evoked a strong emotional response. I know that I am not alone and, whether or not you have been fortunate enough to have visited her, I am sure that most were shocked and horrified to see her in flames yesterday evening. The sense of loss was overwhelming and heartbreaking. It was, as one observer noted, not unlike the 9/11 attacks in New York: at once tragic, symbolic and historic. There was another half-moon last night and it reminded me that while some things persist through the centuries, they can be affected by the events of history and change. They are not immutable.
Thankfully, there was no loss of life during the blaze and current reports suggest that many of the religious and cultural artifacts have escaped (if not untouched) at least in a state that will allow them to be restored. President Macron has vowed to rebuild within 5 years. Sadly, I fear it may take much longer – decades, perhaps – and that leaves me wondering whether I will ever again be able to sit inside Notre Dame to contemplate all that she has seen, and all that she means to us.