At the Foot of David

This past summer, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Italy. As a Dance major, I was training with the finest teachers the country had to offer, and performing in piazzas of the Italian streets.

As the heart of the Renaissance, there was much to learn about history, art, and science while in Italy. In Rome, chills crawled over my skin as I walked the cobblestone roads leading to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. These were the ultimate symbols of what made this empire so great. To think of the history that occurred where I stood was humbling and amazing.

In Florence, we toured the Uffizzi and L'Accademia art galleries. In L'Accademia, in stone-cold marble, stands Michelangelo's famous David statue. It was here, peering up at this 14-foot tall piece of art, that I truly gained more appreciation for what the Renaissance was all about.

When I rounded the corner in the gallery and first saw the David, I gasped as I took in the magnificence of this piece. The flawless, smoothed, chiseled body of young David was a testament to me that one mortal man could not have done this on his own. I believe Michelangelo was truly divinely inspired as he worked on what was to become one of the world's finest masterpieces.

The Renaissance showed the genius of man, but I believe even more pointed to a God who was at the helm of these innovative ideas, inventions, and discoveries of that day. These ideas and discoveries have shaped our way of life today. We have great value for personal identity and human life. The human mind is capable of amazing thoughts and ideas. In our schools we are able to study from the most scholarly academics in this world, all whom stemmed from the Renaissance.

As I stood looking at the David, I realized and grew to appreciate more the Renaissance for how it has influenced my life today, hundreds of years later.

Who knew that a block of solid marble could have taught me so much.