If you inherited a castle, what would you do with it?
In a nearby village, the lovely Burg Satzvey was built in the early 1300’s and hosts jousting and other medieval-themed shows for the entertainment of the populace.
Half-timbered houses cluster around the castle and a large church stands just up the hill.
How do you decide what to do with a castle, if you inherit one? In medieval times, the castle protected the village folk and probably provided a secure marketplace for trading. The size of the modern parking lot and the shops (now closed for the winter) inside the castle say that some things don’t change. Using your inheritance in this way probably has pros and cons. We also saw a bench securely chained down in front of a village house. The tourists around here must be eager for souvenirs.
But the noble family could have made a different choice: they could have left the castle to fall down into a romantic ruin. For example, the abandoned vineyards on the Mosel are called “Brazils” because so many vintners left the area for warmer climes.
One person's decision can influence a whole village, maybe even a whole planet . . .
One person’s decision can influence a whole village.
My own experience is that people move around much more in the United States, maybe because we don’t have so many castles. Our society might be more mobile, but many people volunteer and serve their communities. Some give to their communities in large-scale ways. For example, Andrew Carnegie gave us libraries. I just found a new book I want to read about him.
Wangari Maathai of Kenya planted a tree, and another and another, and eventually won the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize. Read about her story in the picture book PLANTING THE TREES OF KENYA.
Trisha Prabhu came up with a way to prevent cyberbullying
Or what about teen Trisha Prabhu’s app to prevent cyberbullying? Listen to her TED talk.
We’re sometimes quick to dismiss our own experiences and education. Burg Satzvey gave me two questions for myself that I pass on to you:
- What is our heritage and how will we choose to build on it?
- What moves us enough to take a first small step?
