TRAVEL THERE: CHAPEL OF THE HOLY CROSS
Hopping from trail head to trail head, we soon found ourselves at a favorite attraction in the area – The Chapel of the Cross. Come along for a visit.
A Little Savoring Side Trip
Confession, while I may not need to hone my skills at savoring a Mickey D’s breakfast, Bill is right that I do not savor enough. I want to see everything right now and I want to see all of it fast.
As soon as we caught sight of the chapel, I was ready to zip right up there and take it all in. Mr. Bill was busy savoring things. First, he savored a few more trail heads. Then he drove around a residential neighborhood just below the chapel. Though I was antsy at the beginning of the process, I did manage to slow down and begin dancing to the beat of his drummer.
Visiting the Chapel
When you have a favorite place, you keep it pasted on the walls of your brain to retreat there whenever the desire arises. When you go back to visit in reality, sometimes they have dared to change things. Sometimes that’s good and sometimes that’s bad. At the chapel it was a little bit of both.
The experience of arrival was pretty similar. I think they may have moved the angel statue I was so fond of, but the elevated walkway was much the same and the exterior of the chapel was as it had always been.
However, when you actually entered the chapel things had changed drastically. A huge life-sized crucifix has been placed inside, dominating the view of the valley from the interior. I had fond memories of standing inside the chapel, close to the huge windows, looking down on the valley. Am I allowed to say that I loved the sculpture of Christ on the Cross, but I didn’t like what it did to the chapel?
Instead of being allowed to appreciate the incredible view spread out below the chapel, you are now separated from it. First, by tables of candles and then by the statue itself. For some, this might make the chapel a more holy place, but for me, surveying the creation of a man, over God’s creation was a disappointment. I don’t know how to tell them to fix it. The copper sculpture needs to be inside to keep the beautiful finish, but the space is really to small for it. I couldn’t get far enough away from it to really appreciate it and the barricade of candles before it ruined the truly awesome view of the valley.
On other visits I’d had a difficult time dragging myself away from the chapel. This time, I was in and out in moments. Once outside you became aware of something else that had changed – the view outside the chapel. See that enormous house just to the left of center. They should be ashamed of themselves. Overly ostentatious and very distracting!
So, I’ve decided to retain my memories of the chapel before these latest additions. The sculpture and the house will stay and other distractions may be added, but I’m just going to keep my old memories intact and go to the old chapel in my brain.
After we finished with the chapel we decided to check into our Bed and Breakfast Inn, The Adobe Village Inn. Join us next week and discover this delightful place to stay.
jane sadek 