Rebirth, Renewal, Restoration

     I am fascinated by ancient cultures.  Having visited Stonehenge, Mayan temples and caves in southern France with prehistoric art, I have a certain understanding of how important the changing of seasons was to early mankind.  As the architects of Stonehenge placed the capstones to announce the sun and the Mayans designed temples and observatories of the heavens it is clear that these were events that were anticipated and worshiped.

Stonehenge

      We, in our 21st century technical age, take for granted that there are two equinoxes and two solstices every year.  Those events don't make much difference in our lives.  However, the very existence of early man depended on the regularity of the seasons.  I understand why, at the end of December (the Winter Solstice), they would want to celebrate the sun staying in the sky a little longer every day.  Darkness must have been truly dark with no switch available to bring light whenever it was wanted or needed.  And, of course, they would celebrate Summer Solstice (at the end of June) to show appreciation for the long days which would bring about successful crops.  At the end of September they would celebrate the Fall Equinox and a time of harvest.  And then - my most favorite - the Vernal Equinox when life literally springs from the ground once again.  The earth experiences rebirth as the tinge of green appears on trees and the buds on bushes and the shoots of leaves that promise flowers to come.  How magical that all must have been for early mankind.
     Even in this age, I can feel the power in nature - in thunder and lightning, in wild fires, in natural disasters, the forces of nature that we can not control.  I understand why early man would ascribe these powers to gods.  For surely each power was controlled by a deity beyond man.  Man could not tame nature.  We still can not tame nature.
     It was much later that Christianity decided to give religious meaning to those celebrations.  How beautiful that in the darkest time of the year we would celebrate the birth of one who was to be called the "Light of the World."  Even the word "Easter" has pagan significance.  Some Christian cultures refer to Easter Sunday as "Resurrection Sunday" or "Holy Sunday" instead.  The Summer Solstice is a huge celebration in France to coincide with St John's Day and everyone heads to the beach or somewhere warm for partying!
     I find this time of year (Spring) to bring a sense of renewal to my psyche!  I need sunshine.  I need to be outdoors - especially here in Colorado where the skies are the bluest I've ever seen and the mountains are always near.  To be able to drive for 20 minutes and be surrounded by mountains is a blessing! I always feel renewed when I'm in nature.  I feel renewed by beauty whenever and wherever I find it - paintings in museums, statues in town plazas, the architecture of gothic cathedrals, the brightly colored houses in some European towns.   In a book I've been reading this past week called "Brunetti's Venice", Donna Leon (the author of the Brunetti murder mysteries) wrote that she is always "warmed and comforted by beauty."

Pike's Peak - my "backyard"

Starry Night by Van Gogh

Cellini's statue of Perseus in Florence

Cinque Terre, Italy

     I'm not sure if "restoration" is really the correct term for the work I'm doing on my house.  I'm not trying to restore it to a previous time, although I am trying to be faithful to the vintage of the house.  I want people to walk into it and fall in love with a house that has been on this spot since 1926.  As I restain the wood trim and wood doors and refinish the wood floors I can see the beauty of those old materials shining into the 21st century and making a statement:  "They don't make 'em like this anymore!"  I think about who might have built the house, the first inhabitants who fell in love with this place.  They could sit on the front porch and watch the golfers in Patty Jewett since there were no houses between El Paso St and the golf course two blocks away in 1926.  They would have easily been able to see Pike's Peak from the back yard since the now towering trees would have been much shorter!
     Rebirth, renewal, restoration - those are words of hope.  I like those words!  They point towards the future, they point towards France!  May you all experience that feeling of hope and regeneration at this time of year.  Thank you for reading this post and for joining me on my journey.  Merci!