Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Doors...and winding logic. Follow me?

This is a very special door. It is the remnant of a door at Tintagel Castle in Cornwall, England. This is the famed abode of King Arthur and his Queen Guinevere. Whether it is fact or not, this castle is still there, divided by the sea but still a testament to the building techniques of the ancient Roman/English people.From Wikipedia.................
Roman settlement
Cornwall, the territory of the Dumnones, was relatively untouched during the Roman occupation of Britain, however coins and pottery fragments found at the site indicate that the site, typical of a cliff-fort, was occupied in the third or fourth century. Two Roman milestones nearby indicate that a road led to the settlement.

Early medieval settlement
After the Romans left Britain, Celtic peoples did build a fortress on the site. It is often speculated that it was a summer residence for the rulers of Dumnonia. The Ravenna Cosmography, of around 700, makes reference to Purocoronavis, (almost certainly a corruption of Durocornovium), 'a fort or walled settlement of the Cornovii, (unidentified, but possibly referring to Tintagel Castle or Carn Brea castle). Later legends claimed that this was the site where the Cornish kings held court at this time.

Richard, Earl of Cornwall
A castle was built on the site by Richard, Earl of Cornwall in 1233, to build on the Arthurian legends that were associated by Geoffrey of Monmouth with the area and because it was seen as the traditional place for Cornish kings. The castle was built in a more old fashioned style for the time to make it appear more ancient. Richard hoped that in this way he could help to gain the Cornish people's trust, who were suspicious of outsiders. The castle itself held no real strategic value.

Fall into ruins
After Richard, the following Earls of Cornwall were not interested in the castle, and it was left to the county sheriff. The castle became more dilapidated, and in the 1330s the roof of the Great Hall was removed. From there, the castle became ruins.

Victorian era
During the Victorian era, there was a fascination with the Arthurian legends, and the ruins of the castle became a tourist destination. The modern day village of Tintagel was known as Trevena until the 1850s, when it was renamed to promote tourism on the strength of the King Arthur and Camelot legends. Strictly speaking, Tintagel is only the name of the headland.

Interesting, yah? Not to make this a history lesson but to provoke thought. What doors do we walk through and not realize that by choosing that particular passage, we are changing the course of our lives? Another history lesson, perhaps, but hear me out.

I was reading, with my daughter last night, a great study guide on the Titanic. Although numerous warnings were received by the great ship the information NEVER MADE IT to anyone who could have responded. True, the ship did change course to travel a bit further south but that's it. The last warning was totally blown off because an overworked telegram clerk was backed up in his work sending holiday greeting from passengers to their loved ones back home..."Having a great time, wish you were here" things.... Apparently his machine had broken down earlier and when it was finally back in working order he had a stack of these messages to send. He told the sender of the last ice warning to "SHUT UP, SHUT UP."

That ship's communication said that it had come to a full stop and was surrounded by ice.

Was the fate of those who stepped on board sealed the moment they walked through the massive doors of the ship? And not to get too overboard here (pardon the pun) but let's step to present day. The fate of people who walked through office doors in the Twin Towers that awful morning as opposed to those who walked through the doors of a Starbucks or their children's school..? Wow. That is one to ponder, eh?

Just a thought as you travel through your day swinging through the doors of a new place..a blind date's front door....an office building....a Starbucks.

Keep your eyes peeled!

I believe that the Divine Power has many plans for us - many emotions, experiences, losses and gains to slog through. And why? To fully appreciate the littlest things in life that are so important. The feel of the sun on your face after a long winter, the way your child's face looks when they are happy, the warmth of a hug - okay I sound kinda cheezy but you get the picture.

Isn't that what it is REALLY all about?????

There. My piece of illogic login for the day.

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