I Even Heard Her Singing In the Abbey

     Ever since I got here, I have been having these minor moments of epiphany everywhere I go. Most likely, this is attributed to the fact that I'm in a foreign country, and I'm fascinated with the novelty of it. Yet, after my recent visit to Westminster Abbey I think that there really is a bigger picture developing behind all of this.

    The abbey itself is absolutely a work of art. It took centuries to construct and is truly the most ornate, intricate, and marvelous piece of gothic style architecture that you will find. But its beauty is not simply limited to its aestheticism.

     Walking around, I heard about all of the great monarchs, saints, and various other noble brits buried there; tales of martyrdom, love, and devout faith were overwhelmingly beautiful and inspiring. I wouldn't be able to tell you how many memorials and statues there are for these nobles for there were dozens, maybe hundreds. But being able to see all of that devotion to God was remarkable.

     As an individual who does not associate with religion, I didn't find myself fascinated with the fact that someone would endure persecution for God or fight for their religion. Rather, I found myself respecting and, at some points, admiring these people for what they have done.

     Throughout the tour, I felt this way and wished that I had such vehemence and ardor for something like these monarchs, priests, and saints. But when I got to the end of the tour, I realized that there was something. At the end of the abbey, there is a section that is essentially an "honorable mention" section filled with people who have given tremendous contributions to England.

     Here, I found mainly novelists, poets, and playwrights. Obviously, there was Shakespeare and Dickens, but also John Keats, Percy Shelly, Dylan Thomas, Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, Robert Browning, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, etc. These are my favorite writers who have influenced me so, so much in my development as a writer and human being. These people are the reasons why I want to teach literature and writing in schools. I would even dare to say that they are part of the reason why I am in London right now.

     The abbey does bring peace to all who enter it; regardless of religious affiliation, it brings clarity and insight to whatever you need clarity and insight on. This will truly be one of my most treasured moments from this trip.

London Love, Kristen

PS- The altar in the center of the abbey has this quote stitched onto the cloth:

"When the tongues of flame are infolded into the crowned knot of fire, and the fire and the rose are one, all shall be well. All manner of thing shall be well. All shall be well"