Joanna Young tagged me for Robert Hruzek’s latest group project, If Your Life Were a Building … what would you want it to look like?

Thanks, Joanna! For me, this intriguing question is a no brainer. I choose the Parthenon. Here’s why.

word-sell-parthenon.jpg

1. It’s simple. No hidden agendas, no complications. If I could be as open and honest as the Parthenon, I’d be a happy camper.

2. It’s quiet. When I stood atop The Acropolis looking down over Athens, I was taken by how quiet it was. I prefer quiet – I would make a bad disco or casino. I prefer listening to talking, and truth be told, at times prefer reading to either.

3. It’s historic. I love history – without a grasp of it, I don’t see how anyone can make sense of the present. The Parthenon embodies all the best of Western culture – political freedom, personal freedom, philosophical insight, intellectual honesty, courage, imagination … Remembering our heritage is important to me. If I were the Parthenon, I’d be a living history book.

4. It hangs in there. Thanks to an old football injury, I’m falling apart, much like the Parthenon. But the Parthenon endures, filling me with hope that as we age, we retain and perhaps increase our interior value.

5. It’s spiritual. I believe there’s more to life than meets the eye, so my building has to have a spiritual dimension. The Parthenon was originally a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena. It later became a Christian church, and then a mosque. The Parthenon is beauty with a purpose – to give thanks and praise to powers beyond our understanding that are woven into the fabric of our lives. That’s the kind of building I’d like to be! It’s not an easy construction project – some days I feel like this Parthenon. But I keep trying.

Question
If your life were a building, what would you want it to look like?