A Beautiful, Old Church in Darmstadt
One of my heartfelt memorials. This church was there for many generations, but not after the night of 9-11-1944 when the whole City of Darmstadt was destroyed by an allied bombing raid. The walls of thick, grey stone survived partially. Without doors and windows though, it looked ghostly and eerie. The congregation had decided not to rebuild and leave this church as a memorial. It is seventy-eight years ago, this coming September 11, 2022, that the allies ordered a bombing raid on Darmstadt which destroyed the whole city.
After going to the first memorial and listening to the powerful choir, seeing all the candles burning and getting to see a most beautiful, tall, white marble cross sculpted by an artist from the
I think you will all find this powerful reflection from Ilona as moving and as timely as I did. It is sad, but it speaks to both our tragic history of war (WWI, WWII, Korean, Vietnam, Iraq) and current events now and the atrocities and tragedies happening in the Ukraine. Marcie
I am with you Ilona, in praying for an end to war, with the terrible toll on those who lose their lives, their loved ones, and the survivors. I wish with all my heart that, knowing history, mankind would never repeat it. But we do, over and over again.
Yes, another poignant story with a powerful visual. Will we ever learn?
The pictures repeat, war after war in a seemingly never ending parade of unnecessary sorrow. When I visited Coventry Cathedral some time ago I was also struck by the needless destruction of what was once a vibrant gathering place for so many. There is an inscription on the inside cover of the Book of Common Prayer, placed in every pew in the midst of the rubble. It reads: You are entering into a conversation that began long before you were born, and will continue long after you are gone.” It is referring to the liturgy contained in that historical book. In that particular surrounding, it could also point to the heartbreaking “conversation” we keep having about war and its continuing return. It it long-overdue-time to change the narrative.