Saturday, October 04, 2008

In Memory

The Light Shines On A Significant Message



When I was very little, I remember the joy of reading, because it opened up a whole new world for me. I clearly recall being in church each Sunday, at the beautiful Missions To Seamen Church called St Nicholas in Calcutta - and suddenly being able to read the brass plaques on the walls, between the high, narrow, arched windows.

One plaque honoured the memory of a sailor who had sacrificed his own life to save a shipmate who had fallen overboard. The inscription at the bottom of the memorial plaque read: "Great love hath no man than this, than a man lay down his life for a friend."

Those first five words are central to a very solemn part of Melbourne, the city that I have lived in for the past 20 years. In the Shrine of Remembrance on St Kilda Road, there is a special reverence that is hard to describe. This marble inscription is at the heart of the Shrine's interior and it has a very significant meaning.

When the Shrine was built, the architects were helped by calculations relating to astronomy and mathematics. The intricate design means that a ray of sunlight shines through the high atrium on a special commemorative day, to illuminate the word "love".

That day is the 11th of November each year. And the ray of light strikes the word "love" at exactly 11am, the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. The calculations ensured that this accuracy would endure for 5000 years.

But then the state of Victoria introduced daylight saving - which in turn meant that the careful calculations would be thwarted. That's when all sorts of solutions were considered - and the simplest one was put in place.

Now, a simple prism refracts the light ray by exactly one hour. And at the appointed time on Armistice Day, the sunlight still illuminates the word "love".

Visit TNChick, creator of Photo Hunt. Today's theme: "Sad".

49 comments:

Unknown said...

What a beautiful sentiment.

lime said...

thank you for sharing this. what a profound memorial.

Daryl said...

Beautiful, not sad. That inscription makes me feel good not bad ... good thing I didnt play...

:-Daryl

aims said...

Glory to those people who made this happen David. Remembering the soldiers who have given their lives for our freedom is something that should be done every day on every hour. But this is lovely and this will do nicely.

Unknown said...

Thank you for allowing me to *see* this shrine. Your words painted a beautiful vision!

~AirmanMom returning to her blog...

San said...

Mathematical precision honoring the mystery of light and love. It must indeed be a place in which the reverence is palpable.

And, yes, your photographs capture that a bit. And your words.

Cheffie-Mom said...

I love childhood memories. Thanks for sharing. The photos are beautiful.

imbeingheldhostage said...

wow. That is fantastic-- thank you so much for sharing this. I'm feeling really inadequate trying to come up with the words that I felt while reading this post.
Wonderful post.

Berni said...

Very interesting post, I am glad you recalled this childhood memory and how ingenious of the designers.

Laura ~Peach~ said...

love your skywatch photo but this post is just awesome and what a magnificent wonderful monument and the light (even though daylight savings could have messed it up) anyway I love it!

Weeksie50 said...

Wow, thanks for sharing.

Sandi McBride said...

Such a beautifully written post about important events that tried mens souls until today even...thank you for sharing this with us David
Sandi

Craver Vii said...

Great message. The one who sacrifices may shorten the span of his life, but increases the quality. That's the power of real love. Good stuff, Man!

Arija said...

Being an ex-pat melbournian exiled to SA, the full havoc caused by daylight saving had not occured to me. Glad they found an acceptable sulution for the old shrine.
Funny thing with daylight saving, the cows need milking when cows need milking, they show no respect for the change of clocks at all.

Anonymous said...

I am always moved by the strength of faith.
A beautiful post.
Thank you.

Colin Campbell said...

Very ingenious and a creative solution.

Hilary said...

That's a very beautiful memory and sentiment. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

What a fantastic monument to those who make the ultimate sacrifice. In recent days here in N.Z. a gentleman leaving work in the early evening went to the aid of a lady being accosted and was stabbed through the heart and killed for his trouble. This post really brought home how brave that sacrifice can be for those who pay the ultimate price to help/assist their fellow humans. God bless them.

Cath said...

11th November is not far away. Please PLEASE get us a photo of that - if it is allowed. It would be such an awesome sight and one many of us are unlikely to see - unless you are allowed to photograph it and publish it here. I'd love to see it.

I love those words. It reminds me of the sacrifices many have made but ultimately, the greatest sacrifice any have made on our behalf, and that is Jesus' sacrifice.

Beautiful post David.

nitesh said...

Very beautiful post, moving and enlightening, beside to randomly bump into another north pointers blog is a blessing itself, sir.

sursum corda

will regularly drop in now:)

Jeff B said...

I would concur with Crazycath's request. That would be a beautiful shot to capture.

Anonymous said...

A beautiful shrine in a solemn place. Happy hunting!

Travis Cody said...

What a wonderful way to honor the sacrifice of so many young soldiers.

Pappy said...

Wonderful memories. Also a great statement of the Christian faith. Thanks for sharing this special place with us. Pappy

Chris said...

That is one of the most moving memorials that I have ever heard of. Thanks for the story.

Caroline said...

That is just beautiful.

lucy said...

David...What a great story and one that strikes a cord in my heart as 11-11 is my deceased brother's birthday. Love and memories...that which sustains us. Thanks for sharing.

Annie said...

Well, that is great that they have ben able to solve that problem..and thanks for telling us the story David..

it doesn't surprise me that they have thought to do this, as I did the same thing for my weddng..I chose an hour (11am) that the sun would shine on us both just as we stood there at the front of the (humble) church where we were married...then it rained on us as we walked out!!

Annie

rosecreekcottage-carol.blogspot.com said...

That is truly amazing. Thank you for sharing the story and pictures with us. I, too, like crazycath would love to see that photo!

RiverPoet said...

Oh my gosh, David. What an amazing story! And what an even better argument against daylight savings time!!!

It just goes to show that one can never factor in all possible variables, especially considering the minds of men.

Peace - D

RJ Flamingo said...

That's beautiful, David! Sad and beautiful and fascinating.

Leslie: said...

Sad memories on the 11th of November but what a wonderful tribute to the fallen. The words you've quoted are from John 15:13.

Anonymous said...

Stunning - and what an amazing thing to illuminate - not only the word, but the whole idea. Your post reminds me of a place from my childhood in South Africa - the Voortrekker Monument - seems to me there is a similar phenomenon there - with the sun illuminating a specific feature on a specific day at a specific time. Must research it and find out what it was. Thank you for your thoughtful post.

Anonymous said...

That is a very great memorial.

My Photo Hunt pictures are posted here and here. Happy weekends!

Anonymous said...

A wealth of Sadness there.

dixymiss said...

Fascinating story ~ so glad you shared. It would have been very SAD (tragic), if a solution had not been implemented. Kudos to those who ensure love remains illuminated.

philos said...

I love the story... it's a sad and happy type of thing. Heroism usually is. Thanks for the story that went along with it, I'd have to go visit next time I find myself there.

Baino said...

I actually went to an ANZAC day service at the Cenotaph in Melbourne as a teenager, (I lived there for four years) it was very moving and I love the place but I'm not sure the timber prism was there at the time. Lovely. And clever. You should have saved this one for Nov 11? And San . .yes. . there are a number of these buildings in Australia and they're very contemplative places. If any of you ever come to Australia, I can't recoment the War Memorial and museum in Canberra highly enough.

Hootin Anni said...

Amazing...and oh so perfect David.

My photo hunt is a 'drawing of sad'...stop by, won't you?

Hope your weekend is treating you well.

Gemma Wiseman said...

How beautifully explained and love the pics, a little different from the more traditional images of the Shrine!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the lessons learned.

jams o donnell said...

What a wonderful memorial. Great take on this week's theme

Anonymous said...

very sad, but it's nice that you can share, thanks...
view mine if you wish here thanks...

Patsy said...

WOW -- what a wonderful sentiment. Great photos.

marcia@joyismygoal said...

I love the significance of that scripture sad and amazing at once

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

That is one of the most uplifting things I have read for many a year.

Lisa said...

Beautiful post. Happy weekend.

Akelamalu said...

What a wonderful tribute to all the people who lost their lives. Thank you for sharing this David. I would love to see it for myself as I intend to visit Australia again in the future God willing. :)

Suldog said...

Wow. That's a great story, David. I assume there are great multitudes present at the appointed hour each year, eh? Wish I could be. Must send a shiver up the spine.