The other day I picked up a coffee table volume titled, "The Finest Houses of Paris". This volume tells the stories of some of the most beautiful homes in Paris. The book also contains many beautiful pictures.
While perusing this volume I ran across a beautiful quote about tradition and the family. Many of these fine mansions in Paris have been handed down throughout centuries and kept in the same family. Today, in the hustle and bustle of contemporary society which involves frequent moves, this is hardly ever possible. I believe however, that when a family home is handed down, that such an act is worthy of admiration.
Anyway, here is the quote, "We all know that, in order to anchor and gather together a family, a home is the principal element". A home that is passed down from generation to generation is a home full of history and as Saint-Exupery wrote, "instilled in us reserves of sweetness". The author also states that, "we go there to find our roots, to feel the march of time, not with fear, but rather in serenity, following a path illuminated by the experience of those who proceeded us".
When a family is able to live in a home handed down by one's ancestors this strongly reinforces tradition in that family. Such a family has a genuine connection to all those who went before them, giving them and their children a tremendous sense of stability.
Today when nothing temporal is hardly stable anymore, it is good to reflect upon and admire such lost traditions. Even though such a practice may not be possible for us, we can still gain by our admiration of such a tradition that once placed such tremendous value on family.
Tomorrow, this idea will be continued based on something else discovered in this book.
No comments:
Post a Comment