Beautifully Forsaken

I absolutely love old abandoned churches. They simply fascinate me. I am not a religious person by any means, it is the beauty of the architecture that is so utterly amazing. I used to spend much of my time driving around looking for old abandoned churches, just so I could go in and explore them. I always found them to be some of the most exciting and intriguing places to visit; always an adventure. I don't know how exactly to explain it, but these old churches
just make me feel alive inside. Every time I walk inside one I am greeted by this overwhelming sense of peace and comfort. As creepy as it sounds, I always feel like I am not alone, like I am being
watched just as meticulously and curiously as I am examining the beautiful structure surrounding me. I like to find myself a quaint little spot somewhere around the center of the church and just sit quietly, listening, thinking, feeling, and taking it all in. I enjoy watching the sunlight shine through the windows, sparkling and dancing on the walls and floor with a uniqueness of spirit; unlike that of when it was inhabited. To me, it is the complete emptiness and solitude of what was once a very spiritual place that makes these structures so mysterious; this is what draws my curiosity. Millions of people converged upon these places, praising and worshiping their God. The
structure was viewed as a
sanctuary of holiness, a place of unencumbered spirituality. It was "God's" empire. Then just as quickly as the empire was built, it was abandoned and suddenly meaningless; empty of all spiritually, again simply a structure. Only now it is full of energy, full of soul, full of all the life and the craziness that once occupied it's walls. It is this soul that gives the structure it's pure beauty. The church breathes with a life of it's own, now it is free. Free to be appreciated for the true beauty and creativity of it's structural design. I will always love and be fascinated by old abandoned churches. The feeling I get when entering one is unmistakable; so very creepy yet amazingly peaceful all at the same time. A feeling like no other I have ever felt. It has been quite some time since I have had an adventure of this type. I am now inspired, I am now going on the hunt for my next abandoned architectural exploration.