by Shayde Christian

Moments before 9:00pm, this boat and this boat alone glides to a stop before the ageless Notre-Dame de Paris, protruding up through white light into darkness. Our boat motor comes to quiet. Our lights fall to night. Other boats may lurk behind to steal a glimpse, if so they are silent and dark.

At precisely 9:00, Bach’s Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring emanates from the cathedral and soars through the flèche into open air. Joy... echoes off ancient limestone and flying buttresses. Joy... descends onto the Île de la Cité and creeps over the Seine like a fog before floating like breath onto this boat, onto this boat alone, for just these four tables.

And you fade, and you melt in the joy, in the sorrow, in abject humility for how beautiful life can be, how joyous the world, how heavenly the works of man. You fall apart into the wholeness of all that is.

It was one the most beautiful moments of my life.