The wind blows
Rain against the window glass
The visitors arose
In the air lingers,
The Organs' extended bass
Today, I broke out of the daily rut and did something I don't usually do: I went to the Church. Not for what you think—to pray or for a sudden re-discovery of God.
Instead, I was there for the 15 minutes of Organ music they play twice weekly at 3 pm.
I was sitting in this building, which had been rebuilt from its ashes after WW2. The Church is a mix of the old structure and the new minimalist concrete. There was little to no gold or extravagant paintings. Simple heavy wooden benches, high arcs.
Everyone in silence. An oasis of calm in the city.
Outside, the thunder roared in the distance.
Then, the bells at 3 pm.
After that, the Organ's first note.
The soundwaves resonated deep inside. A masterclass in counterpoint ensued, and reverberations shook every atom in the building.
In German, the word we have for the feeling this setting evoked is Ehrfurcht.
It translates to awe or reverence.
I feel the German word expresses more accurately the aspect of sheer respect and a feeling that there is something much bigger than us.
It's a combination of honor and fear (Ehre + Furcht)
Awe, after all, is heavily overused in the form of awesome.
When we say people need to find God, maybe Ehrfurcht is a good start.
I find it in experiences like this, when standing in huge buildings built by humans hundreds of years ago, knowing that they'd not live to see their completion.
I feel it when listening to music from the three Bs (Bach, Beethoven, Brahms) and other masterpieces that trigger deep respect, gratitude, and a belief that there's something beyond us.
I'll definitely go back to the 15 minutes of Organ music.
Collect this post as an NFT.
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Started my random thoughts blog today with a lil poem, inspired by seeing all the poetry writers here :))
Beautifully written, and speaks directly to my interests. I love being inside old churches, and I love good organ music and reverb. 59 $DEGEN
Love it. The poem and the exploration of that word. Inlove it how some words are hard to translate, because their concept is deeply rooted in the culture of the original language. Thanks for taking me on this trip.
Yes, re-discovering why I studied linguistics through poetry and books. So much to uncover.
Ehrfurcht! Beautifully written, I feel the same way. Art has the ability to touch something deep within us and we reflect on it with awe (Ehrfurcht) and emotion.
Experience the majesty of Organ music in a serene, minimalist church setting. Venture with @naomiii as they step out of routine and reflect on the profound German concept of 'Ehrfurcht'—a mix of awe, respect, and reverence that transcends the ordinary.