THE NIGHT THAT NOTRE DAME BURNED I WAS IN PAPEETE FOR A MINOR SURGERY THE NEXT DAY. I WAS IN A LITTLE HOTEL ROOM PREPARING FOR MY BRAIN TRANSPLANT. I CLICKED ON THE TELEVISION TO SEE NOTRE DAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. INITIALLY I WAS SHOCKED AND FELT GREAT SYMPATHY FOR THE CATHOLIC WORLD. THERE IS A LITTLE CHURCH IN PAPEETE ALSO BY THE NAME OF NOTRE DAME. I HAVE PRAYED IN THAT CHURCH. I HAVE ALWAYS LIKED CATHOLIC CHURCHES EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT RAISED A CATHOLIC. CATHOLIC CHURCH DOORS ARE OPEN TO ALL AND THERE IS A CERTAIN WONDER AND SPIRIT IN THOSE CHURCHES. I LIKE TO VISIT AND PRAY WHEN THE CHURCHES ARE EMPTY OR ALMOST EMPTY. I ONLY GO IF THE SPIRIT MOVES ME TO VISIT. ( not very often). I KNOW FIRST HAND HOW OLD LUMBER CAN BURN QUICKLY. I MET SOMEONE THE NEXT DAY AND THE PERSON ASKED ME IF I THOUGHT THE FIRE WAS A SIGN OR A MESSAGE FROM GOD ? I ANSWERED THAT I DID THINK IT WAS A SIGN OR MESSAGE FROM GOD ! “YES, JUST MAYBE IT WAS A SIGN AND A MESSAGE FROM GOD.” THE MESSAGE WAS CLEAR. THE MESSAGE (if it was a message) IS THAT IT IS TIME TO REBUILD NOTRE DAME.

WHAT DO YOU DO IF SOMEBODY GIVES YOU A BAG OF SOUR LEMONS ? THE ANSWER IS AN OLD ONE. THE THING TO DO IS TO MAKE LEMONADE. JUST MAYBE THIS MIGHT BE THE TIME TO CONSULT THE POPE. MAYBE THE” SIGN” IS TO PROMOTE THE POPES TEACHINGS AND SEEK HIS GUIDANCE REGARDING TOLERANCE AND PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE. THE POPE SPEAKS OF TOLERANCE AND ACCEPTANCE OF ALL PEOPLE AND FAITHS. THE POPE HAS RECOGNIZED THE FAULTS OF THE CHURCH. MAYBE WITH THE POPES GUIDANCE, THERE CAN BE A CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL THAT NOT ONLY HONORS THE PROPHETS, SAINTS AND MARTYRS BUT ALSO RECOGNIZES AND RESPECTS OTHER FAITHS OF OUR WORLD. THE FIRE WAS PAINFUL FOR SO MANY PEOPLE AROUND THE GLOBE. BUT MAYBE.. POPE FRANCIS AND FRANCE COULD TURN A NEGATIVE INTO A POSITIVE. EVEN RECOGNIZING OTHER FAITHS IN A VERY SMALL WAY WOULD CLEARLY CONFIRM THAT THE CHURCH BELIEVES WE ARE ALL GODS’ CHILDREN. IN DOING SO, THE CHURCH AND FRANCE WOULD BE PROMOTING RESPECT AND PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE WITHOUT THE NEED TO TRY AND CHANGE EACH OTHER. OBVIOUSLY THIS WOULD REQUIRE THE GUIDANCE OF THE POPE. HOWEVER, WHAT BETTER WAY TO REFLECT CHRISTIANITY THAN TO RESPECT , RECOGNIZE AND HONOR OTHER FAITHS? THE CHURCH WOULD STILL BE A CATHOLIC CHURCH BUT ONE THAT WELCOMES ANYONE AND EVERYONE. IT WOULD PROMOTE TOLERANCE. TOLERANCE IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS PEACE. WE DO NOT MAKE FRIENDS BY TELLING PEOPLE THAT EVERYTHING THEY BELIEVE IS WRONG. IT IS A BIG INSULT. OUR RELIGIONS ARE REFLECTED IN OUR DAILY LIVES AND HOW WE TREAT OUR FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS IDENTIFIES US FOR WHO AND WHAT WE REALLY ARE. I HAVE MET MANY PEOPLE THAT DO NOT BELIEVE IN GOD. YET THEY TREAT THEIR FELLOW HUMANS BETTER THAN MANY SELF PROCLAIMED “RELIGIOUS” ZEALOTS. MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT WHO THEY SAY THEY ARE AND MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT WHO THEY THINK THEY ARE. I BELIEVE THAT GOD SPEAKS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT WAYS DEPENDING ON WHAT THEY NEED TO HEAR AND WHEN THEY NEED TO HEAR IT. I BELIEVE GOD HAS MANY FACES.

OUR LIVES ARE JUST A NANO SECOND IN TIME. WOULDN’T IT BE FANTASTIC IF THE CATHEDRAL COULD BE DESIGNED IN SUCH A WAY TO PROMOTE A PEACEFUL FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN ? WOULDN’T IT BE WONDERFUL IF THERE WAS A PLACE TO INTERACT WITH ANY FAITH WITHOUT THE NEED TO TRY AND CHANGE WHAT OTHERS BELIEVE? WHAT BETTER WAY COULD WE HONOR OUR CREATOR ? THE PEOPLES THAT PRAY TOGETHER, STAY TOGETHER! If I had the e-mails for President Emanuel Macron and Pope Francis, I would send them my BLOG ADDRESS !! docofthebay.blog

I HOPE EVERYBODY HAS A NICE EASTER ! ( Even though the term Easter originates from the Goddess Ishtar and she was the Goddess of Fertility. (that is why there are Easter Eggs and Bunny Rabbits etc and..AND HAPPY PASSOVER ! JESUS CELEBRATED PASSOVER WITH THE APOSTLES BUT NOT EASTER !! ALSO, JESUS WAS JEWISH ! IT HAS ALWAYS BAFFLED ME WHEN I SEE ANTI-SEMITIC SELF PROCLAIMED “CHRISTIANS” THAT GET ON THEIR KNEES AND PRAY TO A JEW! REMEMBER, IF JESUS WAS NOT A JEW, HE WAS JUST ANOTHER PRETENDER TO THE THRONE !! CELEBRATE LIFE !!BIRTH & REBIRTH ……..FERTILITY……… NEW LIFE !! PEACE ! marc @ docofthebay.blog