Today we witnessed a disaster that will be added to the long history of the Notre Dame Cathedral.

A site that draws both eyes and souls, Notre Dame is an inescapable part of the Paris landscape.

One of my favorite memories of the cathedral is sitting on one of the bridges just a couple blocks away, listening to a group of college-age boys busking swing, jazz and blues with the breeze in my hair and early spring flowers just starting to bloom along the banks. The bells of Notre Dame periodically punctuated the music, bridging genres and eras with each deep peal.

Today’s fire is devastating for sure. But after 850 years of history—withstanding religious upheavals, revolutions, coronations, restorations and world wars—I’m sure the church will rebuild and remain standing for centuries more.