I just returned from Greece. I had never been there and what a privilege to view the many ruins, monasteries, and dig-sites. Now that the jet lag is behind me I am wondering, in amazement, how did the ruins get ruined? All fall down? Did people stop caring and giving care to those buildings? They are what remain of the amazing architectural feats of the time. Greece is splendid with multiple regions ruled in different ways over many transitions throughout history. Did they build the remarkable Acropolis and Parthenon and then why abandon? That’s not the whole story according to a friend, Ron Robb, who reminded me that some of the Greek ruins were destroyed by other nations like France. The Parthenon was mostly destroyed in 1687 when the Ottoman Muslim Turks used it to store gunpowder. Enemies from Venice fired a motor into the building which ignited the gun powder, destroying a big part of the building. These acclaimed stacks of stones were built in Athens 447-432 BC to honor goddess Athena Parthenon, representing the power of the Athenian Empire after a victory over the Persians. Today, many of the sculptures sit in the British Museum, having been controversially removed by Lord Elgin in the early 1800’s. So do we sometimes build something then let it crumble? Strangers come and try to disassemble our hard work. We start a friendship, project, marriage, business, health regimen, or many plans. Something changes and a new plan is necessary. Pause is required. The debris behind us begins to make a pile. I have no answer because those moments come to us all. Some will move on and start to rebuild. Some sit frozen in front of the tv because it is all too much. Build and fail. Build and fail. Build again. What should I do next? What should you do next?
