Submitted by Lorenzo Andaya on the 2022 winter session program in Spain sponsored by the Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics…
Last weekend, my group and I visited the Sagrada Familia, a Roman Catholic basilica designed by the famous architect Antonio Gaudi. The outside is breathtaking, with every design choice having some sort of significance regarding Christianity. The level of detail is astonishing, and even more impressive when considering the primitive technology that the builders had back in 1882. As if the exterior wasn’t impressive enough, the inside was simply gorgeous, with multicolored stained glass and pillars reaching up to the heavens. The church is still under construction today, and when (or perhaps if) it’s completed, it will be the tallest Christian church in the world. However, standing underneath the intricate ceiling, where Pope Benedict XVI stood 12 years ago, I couldn’t help but marvel at its beauty. The fact that it hasn’t been finished yet means that throughout the years, someone has always seen room for improvement, and I think that’s a great lesson to apply to our own lives as well.