I am so envious! What an amazing experience to explore the mines. I'd never heard of the tale of the brothers and am excited to explore that a little more! I've never been to Wales (I hope to one day, my dad's paternal side is essentially Welsh and nothing else) but the country has always been synonymous with magic and whimsy to me. The story of the boy asking who put the gold in the mine was so moving albeit heartbreaking. I like to believe he continued the conversation with his parents and it planted seeds for further Truth seeking.
Ali, I hope that, too. Out of the mouths of babes…
Yes, there is something magical about Wales where the veil between reality and fantasy seems thinner. No wonder you’re such a good storyteller with your Welsh ancestry!
Great article. There are some lands that seem to almost be intrinsically linked to myths and legends. The combination of time, geography, and culture weave a spell of mystery over them. Europe, especially England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, seem to have many places like this. Here in the United States, it being so much younger, it doesn't seem to have that same air of native mystery. The closest I can think of are Washington Irving's Dutch tales and folklore of the haunted New York countryside.
Thank you, Ryan! Yes, I agree. I think the legends and fairytales that sprang out of medieval Europe have more resonance for us personally because of the Christian echoes. Since Christianity arrived so much later in America, the era of faith — uncomplicated by the rise of technology — had passed. Any American fairytales we have would have sprung from Native American mythology, I would guess. I should do a study of our Native American fairytales, though. It’s my thesis that whether or not people have heard of Christ himself, all of humanity is reaching for redemption through the stories they tell.
Who put the gold in the mine? Who hid a treasure so valuable that men searched and labored and risked their lives to find it and claim it for themselves? Who today will not be satisfied to settle for the fools' gold of "nature" or "coincidence," and instead will search for and discover the true gold hidden by God for any and all who are willing to dig deeper?
I am so envious! What an amazing experience to explore the mines. I'd never heard of the tale of the brothers and am excited to explore that a little more! I've never been to Wales (I hope to one day, my dad's paternal side is essentially Welsh and nothing else) but the country has always been synonymous with magic and whimsy to me. The story of the boy asking who put the gold in the mine was so moving albeit heartbreaking. I like to believe he continued the conversation with his parents and it planted seeds for further Truth seeking.
Ali, I hope that, too. Out of the mouths of babes…
Yes, there is something magical about Wales where the veil between reality and fantasy seems thinner. No wonder you’re such a good storyteller with your Welsh ancestry!
I don’t doubt it! What a cool experience. (And you’re too kind, Kate!)
Great article. There are some lands that seem to almost be intrinsically linked to myths and legends. The combination of time, geography, and culture weave a spell of mystery over them. Europe, especially England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, seem to have many places like this. Here in the United States, it being so much younger, it doesn't seem to have that same air of native mystery. The closest I can think of are Washington Irving's Dutch tales and folklore of the haunted New York countryside.
Thank you, Ryan! Yes, I agree. I think the legends and fairytales that sprang out of medieval Europe have more resonance for us personally because of the Christian echoes. Since Christianity arrived so much later in America, the era of faith — uncomplicated by the rise of technology — had passed. Any American fairytales we have would have sprung from Native American mythology, I would guess. I should do a study of our Native American fairytales, though. It’s my thesis that whether or not people have heard of Christ himself, all of humanity is reaching for redemption through the stories they tell.
Who put the gold in the mine? Who hid a treasure so valuable that men searched and labored and risked their lives to find it and claim it for themselves? Who today will not be satisfied to settle for the fools' gold of "nature" or "coincidence," and instead will search for and discover the true gold hidden by God for any and all who are willing to dig deeper?
Well concluded, Charlie!
Thanks for connecting legend with God. It makes everything so believable.
I enjoyed your account very much.
Thank you, Ann! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.