It was a long time ago. I was a man in my twenties and I took a trip to Paris.

But first let me give you a little background.

I was raised Catholic. Baptism, first communion, and confirmation all in the faith. Church and catechism every sunday.

But as I "grew" into adulthood my faith faded from me and I became a staunch agnostic. So I never really gave up my religion I just believed that there may be other things at play.

So now, back to Paris as a man in my twenties.

I remember a bit from that trip to Paris; the Eiffel tower, the arch de triumph, the Moulin Rouge, etc.

But most of all I remember my first look at Notre Dame Cathedral.

I was on a bus and couldn't see the cathedral. I got off the bus and walked around the back of it, to the left. And I looked up and across the Seine river and saw it. And I stopped.

And a thought popped into my head.

"This building was divinely inspired. The hand of god was at work here."

I stood there in shock. I couldn't tell you how long it had been since I thought a religious thought. But there it was. Popped right into my head.

"This building was not of this earth. It was truly divinely inspired."

Here is a picture of it. It's a wonderful picture but it doesn't really express the other-world feeling that this building exudes.

The seocnd picture gives you a little bit more of that essence and feeling. It depicts Napoleon arriving at Notre Dame for his coronation as Emperor in 1804.

(I have more for you under the pictures)