My concern with Urban Studies and Planning is that they do not
articulate, stress or truly attempt to comprehend the poor. (I intentionally leave poor without definition because it can be defined in many more ways than lack of economic status.) The solution always seems to be resolve their state of economic deficit and this will solve
their social and psychological deficit. But just because you put a
white picket fence in the hood doesn't make it the suburbs. The people of the community define its boundaries, shape its uses and
inspire its potential. How do we change cities if we cant change hearts
and minds? How do we improve the city in a physical sense, but leave the
emotional and psychological components of the city parched and
blinded of its potential and without instructions on how to utilize
their new and improved tools and references?
As I sit in these classes an we discuss the city, the high
concentration of people and businesses and leisure all simultaneously
utilizing the city, I learn why chaos is so common to us. The traffic of
constant human contact,the anxiety of danger and invasion of space and
privacy is constantly tested. How do we protect the people in the city
if we cannot control their actions? How can we save the city if we do
not intensively examine and experience the depths of their sorrows, the
peak of their joys and the pride of the people of the city? How can we
make the city "better" and ignore its neighbors? How can we advocate for
a city when we feel no personal significance to the city. How can you
make the city better if you do not love the city? The holistic approach
is not an approach it is the only option to truly dive into a city's being, to
invest and to show that its worth improving, you have its best interest
at heart and you can go before the city and protect its future.
As I continue my studies I learn that this has been difficult for planners, city officials,
governments, those that come in the city with their credentials and theories,their connections from this city to another, there unattached
methods that are not specific to the city and its need. The planners,
the plans and the people have suffered from this method of viewing the
city. True planning I would imagine is to both love and hate the city.
you must see its atrocities because of the diversity and high
concentrations of human and capitalism (susceptible to sin).(there is suffering and wrongs even in your most successful suburb. But you must also see
the cities potential, see its skill set (ABCD Approach). You must love the
city enough to advocate its strengths and addresses it atrocities and
weaknesses. There must be this bittersweet taste for the city, love it
enough to improve it, care enough to not hinder its livelihood and
personality but hate its imperfections enough to address them, not always
wiping them out, (gentrification, eminent domain) but using alternatives (abdc approach)
But God is the ultimate planner. Think about it, in Genesis he
forms His earth he brought light to the darkness, he added space and
air and plants and animals and humans. He planned the first city assistance from humans. God has planned everything out he is the ultimate advocate for planning and designing with purpose and intentions. and God
loved his people before he even formed them! He pulled us from the dust
and made us in his image. Hes a planner. God can do anything and he can
do it all at once but He took his time on creation. he took six days and
was intentional in letting us know that he rested on the seventh day. I
imagine God sitting back on the seventh day and relishing in his
creation, savoring and lovingly marveling at all that he has created.
You see all that God has formed is meant to show him Glory. God basks in
the Glory of his creation. Everything, even sin still points to the truth; God is God.
So as planners what should our cities point to? Lets be clear
they should not say that we as planners are gods don't be deceived
into self worship. But we as planners must have plans that point to; God is
God and he is to be glorified through His cities, through
atrocities, accomplishments and through our cohesiveness as
communities.
When I study Urban Studies, I study how God loves His cities.
I'm listening to where He sees fit for me to be utilized for His glory in
His cities. I'm listening to the cries of the broken people that seem
forgotten. Those that are hopeless, the The Dark City that thinks God has
abandoned them. I am here to speak to that. and have them hear God say
so clear "I have formed you I have plans for you and I am God." This is
ministry. The planner is called to a complex work. A similar role that
God understands. How humbled but weighted we should feel to know that we are allowed to experience the role of planning. So I will continue to absorb, wrestle, question and be inspired by planning, and I know that God is part of this. Amen
