Finding the Beauty of a Place

Has your heart ever been stirred by the words of a song? Has your spirit ever rejoiced at the sound of a few words? These moments when you are truly uplifted are all too rare. They come when you do not expect them and leave just as realize they are here. It is as if enjoying them in ignorance is where the true bliss begins.

This past Tuesday's excursion provided just such a time for me. The on-campus teacher, Dr. Szabo, just took us down the street to a small, unassuming basilica called Saint Agnese(an-yay-zay). I expected there to be a few pretty mosaics and chapels in there. And I was right. The basilica was definately a stunning sight, but the true beauty of the place lie in the masoleum where Emperor Constantine's daughter is laid.

The 17 of us in the group moved quietly into the circular masoleum. Despite our reverent appearances, we were not pilgrims seeking a holy experience or priests embracing the solitude with moments of prayer. We were a group of young, American tourists looking at something for the wonder it offers our senses. We were in it to see our sense gratified with artistic brilliance. What we saw, though, in the masoleum was a sarcophagus in the center encircled by pillars and chairs. The circular walls were bedecked with mosaics depicting several scenes of the Bible. A humble brown altar with a green cushion for kneeling stood facing the sarcophagus of Constantine's daughter. Overall, it was nice but its innate, physical grandeur was weak compared to Saint Peter's Basilica or the Colosseum.

I learend, though, that there is more to a place than physical grandeur. Many times a places true beauty comes from the people who inhabit it. I found this to be true at this humble masoleum. As I was quietly walking around the wall and considering the mosaics, I heard one of my friend's in the group begin singing "Amazing Grace". Soon eight or nine voices could be heard joining together in still praise to God. As we sang that and other songs, our voices filled the room and raised up to the tip of the dome. In that moment I was swept away in the beauty of our praise. Truly, that place became so much more real and alive after that experience.

One of the beautiful aspects of Rome is that it has a dual beauty. One part of it comes from the outer adornment, like architecture, paintings, or sculptures. The other part is the beauty given to it by those who inhabit it. As creatures made in God's image, we can bring so much beauty to a place.