Today I was able to check another item off of my Paris Bucket List. And this was a pretty big one.
I attended a church service at Notre Dame.
Last summer when I studied abroad in France, I had the privilege of walking through Notre Dame while they were holding a service and I was able to see the beauty of it as a guest. Just being a random onlooker brought me to tears and I made it an immediate bucket list item to attend a real service one day.
And today it happened. I was a member of the congregation during an Anglican service put on by the Royal British Legion, which means that not only did I get to be there, but I was also able to understand the service in its entirety. The experience moved me to tears.
Notre Dame was by far my favorite thing about Paris last summer when I visited for a few days and it’s one of my favorite things about Paris as a whole while living here. So to actually take part in something so full of history and beauty during a special service to remember those fallen on the battlefield was breathtaking. I remember I just kept thinking to myself, “Is this real? Is it? Thank You, God. Thank You, God.. Thank You.”
I’m still in awe hours later and know that this experience will live within me for the rest of my life. Words can’t describe how humbling it was to be there. I know I’m truly blessed.
Thank You, God.
The Wandering Sunflower 