Through Cracks, Life Finds a Way

As an undergraduate musical theatre major, I spent a semester in London studying acting. One weekend, a few fellow theatre majors and I packed up and went to Greece to visit ancient theatres. We stayed in a hostel at the base of the Acropolis in Athens. 

One of the ancient sites I really wanted to visit was the Theatre of Dionysus. This was the spot where ancient theatre began. It was the spot I had studied for years. The entire theatre world, musicals, Shakespeare, and that really bad children’s theatre, all stemmed from this place. This theatre, on the side of the Acropolis, was the epicenter of theatre during the 6th to 4th century BC. 

Although only some of the theatre has survived and been restored, seeing the location where theatre began was a very special experience. As I wandered the grounds, I made my way halfway up the seats and sat down. I enjoyed the scenery and imagined the theatre productions that might have taken place on that stage. 

As I continued to explore this theatre, I found what was once a column or pillar. It had fallen over centuries ago. Yet growing through a crack in the side of the column was a beautiful pink flower.

Of all of the places such a flower could have grown, it decided to make its way through the small crack of an ancient marble column. I took a picture of it and have always remembered the beauty that came through what was broken. 

When it looks like things have crumbled and there is no way for them to be repaired, when it looks as if things are ruined or eroding, are destroyed or decaying, life and beauty will always find a way. Even through the smallest crack. So take heart today. Even through the smallest crack, life and beauty will find a way.