“Cathedral thinking” is the kind of vision that takes generations to realize.
I first heard the term in 2008 in a speech by Jim Rogers, then CEO of Duke Energy. He described how medieval cathedrals were built across centuries — and how that kind of multi-generational commitment was needed to transform our electricity grid.
I remember feeling inspired.
His words gave me hope that we were living in a transformational era, when business would decisively act to decarbonize electricity and ease the burden on future generations.
But then, in 2009, federal climate legislation failed in the U.S. Senate. That memory lingers.
I find myself wondering: did we lack enough leaders willing to preach — and practice — Cathedral Thinking?
Today, I feel graced to pause and ask again: What Cathedral projects am I contributing to?
For me, one place this shows up is in how I choose to work and invest — trying to align money and time with institutions that won’t yield quick returns, but that might bear fruit or offer beauty in future generations.
A friend recently sent me a video (linked below) about a different kind of private equity fund shifting to “patient capital.”
I personally don’t resonate with some of the Jesus-forward language, but the imagery of Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia — still under construction after 140 years — is a helpful reminder that beautiful institutions — and systems change — often takes longer than one lifetime to build.
My friend who shared the video framed it in this way:
Isaiah 61 has been in my heart: “They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated.” That’s my prayer for our work.
So I’m asking myself — and inviting you to ask too:
- Am I planting trees for a harvest I’ll never see?
- Am I caring for (or tending to / repairing) what was built by generations before me?
- Am I investing in frameworks that will still bear fruit and grace in two, five, or seven generations from now?
👉 Here’s the video if you’d like to reflect with me: https://youtu.be/XCh3ERUL7DM?feature=shared
What about you?
What’s your Cathedral Thinking project right now?
