In my message to Nakita today I said that it was hard to believe these buildings are really true. To me this whole place looks like a movie set. I guess that’s because I’m a Kiwi kid and, in New Zealand, if things look really old, then it’s usually because they were made to look like that. But here in France, the things that look really old, really are old. Everyone else probably knows that – even I know that. It’s just hard to comprehend.

Clive and I walked the Cadet Roussel trail today through the Auxerre township. We picked up a brochure from the wee tourist office, down the beautifully cobbled road from our apartment, and then followed the brass markers on the footpath, learning about the township’s historical buildings and places. It was so interesting to read all the information. But what really impacted us was that all the houses along these storybook-like streets are actually lived in. They are three hundred, four hundred and sometimes five hundred years old – and people live there every day, just doing their normal every-day stuff. That does my head in, that does!

The trail also took us past Saint Germain Abbey and The Saint Etienne Cathedral. We happened to notice that the door to the cathedral was slightly ajar, with a notice saying “Haere Mai” (Woa, back within the NZ education system for only a couple of months and look at me go!). No, it actually said Bienvenue (“Welcome”), but also added in French, “Please behave yourselves – Silence”. We opened one more door and viola….

People were behaving themselves; well Clive and I were the only ones there apart from a lady arranging flowers. And it was very silent except for the most beautiful sound of distant singing which echoed throughout the entire cathedral. We walked tentatively through until we came across a very small service taking place in a side alcove. It was truly lovely. Clive read that there has been a church building of some sort on that site since the fourth century AD. The current building has been there since 1023 AD.

It was interesting comparing this to the Palace of Versailles. Again, amazing history, amazing talent, and surely a great expense – but one built to the glory of man and the other built to the glory of God.

“Earth and sky will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Matt 24:35