The Sunken Cathedral of a Coral Reef

From time to time their are reports of the discover of the archaeological ruins of some remarkable structure or complex. It may be an ancient synagogue or church found during excavations for a roadway, or perhaps a Mayan temple complex discovered beneath dense jungle growth. They are intriguing, at least for a nerd like me.  

There are the equivalents to these finds in the natural world as well, even in a time when what we might imagine as wilderness is shrinking. This week we heard that a massive coral reef, the size of a skyscraper (such an old-fashioned term) was found off Australia, which is home to the Great Barrier Reef. It is 1640 feet tall, much taller than the Empire State building at 1240,or the tallest church, a cathedral in Germany which is a mere 530 feet in height. To give a comparison in our context, it' about the height of the CN Tower if the antenna is included.  

What is astonishing and awe-inspiring is that the reef was "built" by tiny creatures over the course of millennia without any intention to do so. Today the reef is home to what one researcher describes as a "blizzard of fish." The Great Barrier Reef is in peril because of bleaching related to climate change but this is a healthy ecosystem. 

We might consider this discovery as the equivalent to coming upon a site akin to the holy ground of a human-made structure. Or perhaps we should have an even greater sense of reverence because this is part of the exquisite interdependence of living things which we consider to be the work of the Creator and upon which our lives depends 

. I'll be paying attention to the discoveries related to this reef in the days ahead. And praying that we don't mess up this holy place in our curiosity and tourist consumerism.