Florence, the Arno and fog, Italy

The epicenter of the Renaissance is found in Florence. A visit there reminds the traveler that very once in a while the fog lifts on society and there comes a great understanding of the importance of balancing two opposing forces: "what we can know and explore," and "what we can't know but must accept by faith." Science and art on one hand, religion and spirituality on the other. Balance these and life takes a turn toward perfection. But when science is seen as a force meant to oppose religion, rather than the practice of knowing God's universe through careful observation, life gets a little harder, and the earth darkens just a little.