City Girl at Heart

"I love cities. I am quite convinced that a great city is the greatest kind of place to live, and that human beings are put together in such a way that most of us need the kind of interaction possible in a city at least some of the time, if not all the time. [...] Cities are good things because they embody at its most intense the gracious gift of human community."
--Gideon Strauss in Comment magazine

I love cities, too.

Read more of Mr. Strauss's comments on God's work in cities.

Posted by TulipGirl | 09:03 PM| TrackBack (1) | Words

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Tracked on November 15, 2004 11:26 PM

Comments

That is so funny - my family just got back from a city and we couldn't get away fast enough :-)
Posted by: Andrea at August 17, 2004 02:39 AM

Something, somewhere, I read recently reminds me of that same sentiment.

When I taught my one undergraduate history class I would start off by having the students introduce themselves with where they were born and the most beautiful place they had ever seen. Regarding the latter, 95% of them would wax on about some untouched, primordial natural vista. One guy talked about old streets in Boston in autumn. Someone else about an ancient wonder. The point was to show how they were products of their culture and place in history, this post-enlightenment, post-romantic ethos which sees nature as the window upon deity and peace.

How unlike scripture! Sure you have the images of agrarian bliss, but even there it is tied into rebuilt cities. And it is an ordered agrarian productivity pictured in conjunction with the rebuilt centers of worship and life, not some Wilde Wood.

I would still personally rather spend an hour on my secluded secret spot on the Roaring Fork river, but at least I understand that is probably the result of an over-realized sense of privacy and autonomy more than a biblical aesthetic
Posted by: Adeodatus at August 18, 2004 02:00 PM

oops. My haste above left bad links. The first one should be this(Rev 21), and the second this (Amos 9:13-15). Sorry about that.
Posted by: Adeodatus at August 18, 2004 02:13 PM

Excellent thoughts, Adeodatus. Btw, what ages/subjects do you prefer to teach?
Posted by: TulipGirl at August 19, 2004 07:42 PM

I used to want to be a country girl because I thought that it meant I was more spiritual somehow, or a deeper person. But I have known for awhile now, that I also am a city girl at heart, and Gideon's words are a perfect expression of my own heart! And I felt encouraged that he (being a godly man with a wonderful family) felt that way too! Here's to us city lovers!
Posted by: Kris Tamerius at August 19, 2004 08:58 PM

I've never lived in a city hence my 'lack of appreciation'. I grew up outside a small town and now live in rural Saskatchewan where I have four neighbors; none closer than 1/2 mile from my place. And I love it! When we visit the city we feel bombarded with sounds, sights and people (traffic). But I would agree that this has no bearing on spirituality. And yes the new city of Jerusalem will be a city like no other - It will be incredible!
Posted by: Andrea at August 21, 2004 03:44 PM

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