Paradise

Sometimes you just stumble into Paradise.

I went for a short walk into Taizé village and went into the tiny Église Saint-Marie-Madeleine. Incredibly simple: bare walls, stone floor, wooden benches and a small, plain altar. 

The acoustics were amazing. At one point five young people came in, clearly interested in singing but holding back because I was already there. I encouraged them to go ahead, and they sang a handful of Taizé chants - in full four part harmony! - which reverberated so beautifully. 

But the rest of the time, silence. And such a profound silence; in some way the incredible acoustics seemed to amplify the quiet (although don't ask me how that works).

I sat for hours, praying, listening, dwelling like Elijah in the presence of the still, small voice.

I wish I lived near this church ...

///stealth.arithmetic.obsessively