Sunday, March 22, 2026

Humbled by History

What were the circumstances connected to the most recent instance when you felt humbled by history? Did something you read in a book perhaps connect you in some powerful way to the distant past? Maybe something depicted in a film about ancient times elicited a deep awe in you? I've certainly had experiences like that.

The vicarious thrill that books, film, or stories about history have delivered to me cannot compare to the buzz I felt today. As he began speaking of the Roman aqueduct we were approaching, I listened intently to our guide. But my attention wandered as my mind's eye tried to imagine this structure when it was first erected here in Segovia Spain over two thousand years ago. The last time I can recall feeling this humbled by history was when our guide interpreted the Native American petroglyphs in some of the remote caves of Death Valley on a visit we made there a few years back. I'm comfortable using the word transcendent to describe moments like the one I had earlier today while standing beneath the aqueduct pictured above.

I welcome hearing a similar story from your life. 


2 comments:

  1. Hey Pat. I recently had the honor of attending the Anne Frank exhibit at the NY Center for Jewish Studies. And it was an absolute honor to be able to do this. To say that I was moved would be the largest understatement there could ever be. I found myself captivated by the exhibit, standing mesmerized by the various photos, feeling the emotions well up inside as the tears started to fall. Different in scope to what you experienced (above) but, when I think of one thing that has had such an impact on me .. nothing comes close to this.
    Be well,'
    Bob


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    1. Bob; Thanks for sharing your emotional experience while visiting the Anne Frank exhibit. I'm sure those moments will remain with you as much as my moments while at the Roman aqueducts in Segovia.

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