Washington D.C. sports a large gothic style Episcopal church dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul, commonly referred to as The National Cathedral. It was the main item on our list of places to go in D.C. upon our return from the Northwest after the Loon Lake Retreat and the positive results from the medical tests.
The cathedral is an immense building (6th largest cathedral in the world) covered in Indiana limestone; it was begun in 1907 and completed in 1990. An earthquake damaged it in 2011, from which it is still recovering. It is truly impressive when entering the church, huge columns reaching up to support pointed arches high overhead, starting with the nave the church stretches out in front of you for a tenth of mile. There is a nice overall feeling in the cathedral.
After completing a guided tour we went down under to prowl the crypts and explore the four chapels below the main floor. We meandered our way to the Bethlehem Chapel, and immediately felt a spiritual vibrancy and a loud Aum/Amen resonating. We sat to meditate and soon a small service began (communion). That morning a man nearby had repeatedly fired a rifle wounding a congressman, several congressional aides and some police officers. Prayers were said for them, and a nice short talk by a retired Episcopal minister–she spoke of accepting the will of God in all situations. It turned out this chapel deep under the church (just below the high altar), had the cornerstone of the church under its altar (Teddy Roosevelt attended the laying of this stone) and it was the first completed section of the church in 1912; a service has been held here almost every day since.
We then attended a talk pertaining to the large organ as we sat in the facing pews. The minster described the placement of ten thousand pipes and demonstrated its various sounds, from a high piccolo sound, to a deep deep base (a pipe which could accommodate seven people standing inside it). He then played Ode to Joy, and then a longer piece. It was a magnificent demonstration, sitting with eyes closed, reflecting on the remarkable difference between live and recorded music; whether a symphonic orchestra or this magnificent organ.
I had wanted to have the darshan of this National House of Prayer, as designated by congress, and it was more than I expected. We topped off the tour by ascending to the Pilgrim Observation Gallery, seven stories up with a 360 degree view of Washington D.C., including the Washington Monument seen from this highest point in the district. It seemed significant to be here on this day of attack of the congressman (a politically motivated gunman).
Though we may differ in ideas, we have a history of peaceful political transitions, the rule of law and freedom to speak our minds. Let us not become so overheated that intolerance and hate supercedes peaceful ways of expressing our differences. Wise or ignorant, freedom of thought is a fundamental right from our Creator–as He proves by giving us minds that will never perfectly agree one with another. God’s will is supreme, and let us trust in Him to guide this world in all its ways for the highest good of all. The universal cathedral of God occurs when the love of God, by whatever name (or no name) He or She is called is broad enough to include all mankind, and is made manifest here on earth as the universal vision in which all are known to be various expressions of the one Supreme Spirit.
