Quiet as a church

The work we do every day is, at its root, about bringing people together.

Those people don’t necessarily need to have a lot in common.
They may in fact not get along.
They may disagree on various topics.

But they can come together to create something wonderful
because they agree that a few things are true
and that those things are important.

In Paris I visited the Richelieu site of the Bibliothèque nationale de France -- The French National Library.

The Oval Room there is open to the public, and it’s a sight to behold. (See it here.)

A massive open space, packed full of books, packed full of people, quiet as a church.

Places like this don’t “just happen.”
This one began in 1880 and wasn’t completed until 1936.
Funding shortages, political apathy, and a world war stood in its way.

But many people, over many years, combined their efforts to create it.
And a few took a chance on championing it.

And today, its beauty, serenity, and utility are the result of many small actions by its administrators, staff, and visitors.
Not just one person’s vision.
It’s the combined output of a shared community.

That’s just one example of what shared values can do,
when a few stand up and champion the cause,
and the like-minded are willing to join in.

All the best,
A.