This is one my favourite photos from a recent trip to Segovia in Spain. It shows examples of two classes of “things” – “things that change VERY slowly” and “things that change VERY quickly”!
First, the stones…….the Roman aqueduct in Segovia is the longest in tact aqueduct in Europe. It was completed in the 112 AD to take water from the Rio Frio 17 kilometres away into the heart of the city. Constructed with huge granite blocks placed on top of each other without any mortar to hold them together it functioned right up to the mid 19th century.
Isn’t it astonishing? I wonder how many of construction projects of the last 100 years will have this kind of longevity?
However, although it looks as if it is unchanged over almost 2000 years in fact part of it was destroyed by the Moors, and rebuilt in the 15th Century during the time of Ferdinand and Isabella. Also, there are some cracks in the granite now, due to pollution and water damage from leaks over the centuries. Still, 2000 years is a long time. In any one human life time these stones look like the kind of objects which keep their structure and form day after day, month after month, year after year.
Second, the clouds…….clouds are water droplets condensing and evaporating continuously. I challenge you to find the edge of a cloud! They just don’t keep their shape for more than a few seconds. They appear out of, and dissolve back into, the blue, blue sky around them…..constantly.
When we don’t stop to think about it, these are both objects, these stones and clouds, but they are SO different I sometimes wonder if we need to stop applying a single word to them both. They aren’t just “things”. But they are both beautiful, don’t you think?
Heroes Not Zombies 
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