A Letter to My Architect Friends

Dear friends,

I just finished reading Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life by Tish Harrison Warren (an Anglican priest in South Austin) and wanted to share these quotes with you.

"Part of my sanctification and part of the world’s redemption is for me to learn to do my work well—or at least better than I currently do it."

"At my church we ring bells during our practice of the Eucharist. The acolyte (the person—often a child—assisting the priest) rings chimes when our pastor prepares the communion meal. There is nothing magic about these chimes; nothing superstitious. They are just bells. We ring them in the Eucharistic liturgy, as a way of saying, “Pay attention.” They are an alarm to rouse the congregation, to jostle us to attention, telling us to take note, sit up, lean forward, and notice Christ in our midst. We need this kind of embodied beauty—smells and bells—in our gathered worship, and we need it in our ordinary day to remind us to take notice of Christ right where we are. Dostoyevsky wrote that “beauty will save the world.” This might strike us as mere hyperbole. But as our culture increasingly rejects the idea and language of truth, the church’s (and Architecture’s) role as a harbinger of beauty is a powerful witness to the God of all beauty. Czesław Miłosz wrote in his poem “One More Day”: ‘Though the good is weak, beauty is very strong . . . And when people cease to believe that there is good and evil only beauty will call to them and save them so that they still know how to say: this is true and that is false.’ Being curators of beauty, pleasure, and delight is therefore an intrinsic part of our mission, a mission that recognizes the reality that truth is beautiful." (Italicized words added by James, bolding as well.)

I was pointed to this book by one of my sons who is planning to use it as a part of a sermon series.  One of the blessings of my life is to have a committee of reading family and friends who are willing and able to share their favorite new findings with me. 

These words brought you, and our professional association, to mind.  They led me to think back on our work through the years to lift up the cause of our profession before ourselves, colleagues and community.  I pray they resonate with you as well.

Blessings,

James

Reply from friend Bryce:

James and Friends,  Thanks for linking the secular with the sacred……it abounds in everything we see.  "How does that flower blossom?”.   “ How can the bee find nectar?”  The TSA theme of several years ago-- ‘Beauty’ —still resonates in all of you.  Cheers, Bryce 

Reply from friend Dan:

Thanks James.  You reminded me of one of the highlights at Frank Welch’s memorial service here in Midland at the end of June.  After the service (at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Trinity), the priest had us gather outside around the bell tower of Frank’s design.  The bells tolled as we reflected in his memory.  It was indeed a sweet, transcendent and beautiful moment.

Reply from friend Elizabeth:

Thanks for ringing our bell!