Nothing Lasts. Not even Notre Dame.

I was enjoying the new “Game of Thrones” episode last night when Varys hit me with a memorable quote. His solemn, soothing voice juxtaposed with a deeply unsettling message:

Nothing Lasts.

Relatable? Grim? Sad? Perhaps all of the above but surely overly pessimistic and simply untrue. We’ve all heard the phrase “nothing lasts forever” before. That one I might agree with. But to remove the word ‘forever’ suggests something more, something worse: That endurance doesn’t really exist, that every legacy inevitably collapses, just as every dynasty falls. That everything is fragile, or vulnerable even. Some things do last. The universe, and history — don’t they last? Our civilization? Its countless artifacts, works of literature, music, paintings, buildings, churches and famous Cathedr… wait a minute. What?! What’s that post I’m seeing on social media? A devastating fire at Notre Dame. The spire and roof completely destroyed. Maybe Varys had a point. Nothing lasts.

For eight centuries, The French Revolution, two World Wars and much, much more, Notre Dame has stood the test of time. Whereas Paris’s other famous monument, The Eiffel Tower, has overlooked the city for over 130 years, Notre Dame has been an inseparable part of Paris since the 1200s. The landmark building — so much more than just a cathedral — has witnessed numerous…