609 - National Cathedral
I visited the National Cathedral twice and all I got was this photo of a stained glass window:
Which, in theory, isn’t a bad photo. In fact, it’s quite good. But for the ROI on the time I spent in the god-forsaken place, it simply won’t do.
Now, unlike most of my other blog posts, this adventure isn’t going to have some brilliant turn around ending where I learn a lesson and come out with a better photo. This is a post about the search for absolute perfection, and what it does to me.
See, when I signed up for the Behind the Scenes tour of the church, I didn’t realize that I’d learn things that’d haunt me forever. Like the fact that engineers purposely designed the church so that it wouldn’t be perfectly symmetrical.
For example, when you stand high above the pews overlooking the church from the center balcony, the main altar is slightly misaligned. On purpose.
The reason being that it was a metaphor for “no one is perfect in life.”
Which drives me absolutely fucking nuts. To the point where I refuse to post any of the photos that demonstrate this misalignment. Because they knew that they were messing it up, but still continued with the build.
Tell me, who greenlit this scenario? The church cost an estimated $65 million to build, over the course of 83 years. And they still said, “yeah, let’s fuck it all up because symbolism.”
Maybe put a poster up that says “no one’s perfect” instead? Did you ever think of that you fucking numb nuts?
I paid $55 over the course of two visits just to see this mathematical “blunder.” In fact, let’s break this down. To even get into the church, it’s $15 USD. From there, there’s a $20 Guided Tour, a $35 Behind the Scenes tour, a $50 Bell Tower Climb tour, a $60 Angels and Monsters Tower Climb tour, and a $90 Combination Tower Climb tour. All to see a misaligned nave.
If Jesus were a relentless businessman, he’d be proud. But I wasn’t. I was fucking mad.
I demand perfectionism in architecture because it is the anti-thesis of nature. It’s about man’s power to build something that maintains a sense of control over his environment. Something that follows mathematical rules, has a stable form, and demands order. Something we’re all searching for in life.
It’s the whole reason architecture is intriguing. It gives us hope that things can be built that give us a sense of control over our lives. It’s also the entire point of religion- to give us a structure of control over the chaos of the void.
So why fall back into disarray?
I took a seat and looked up. My blood was boiling. But the church sat in quiet darkness:
Is this search for perfection all consuming? Part of me wants to give into this message that the church is pushing. But a stronger part of me wants to live in that fantasy world of architectural precision- even if I’m lying to myself. Even if I know that, although the church could look perfect, I will always know deep down that there will always be nooks and crannies that aren’t quite perfect.
And I think it’s because I enjoy playing pretend. That’s what Intricate Explorer does to me. It gives me a chance to think I have control over the beauty of this ever-imperfect world. But in reality…
I’m on a mission to explore as much as humanely possible.
Want to see my progress? Check out the Adventure Map.
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