On a recent trip to McKays book store I found a book that caught my eye. It was called ‘Mercy Street: Seeing grace on the streets of New York‘ I flipped through it and opened up to a chapter about animals that live on the street with their owners. I read through how people with animals were easier to open up conversation with on the street because it was a natural open to talk about their animals. I am an animal lover and can understand how people can talk about their animals with complete strangers having had many conversations on my own sidewalks while walking my dog.
After reading the chapter about animals I was convinced ‘Mercy Street’ was the book to start 2009 for me. It is an older book (2003) and looks like it is out of print except used copies, but the book is so far amazingly relevant (yes I know 6 years is not that much). Taylor Field has such a unique perspective on viewing street life – not only homeless, but the city in general. The preface to the book encourages you to sit down the book and take a walk around your city and see it…really look.
I am guilty of not loving Nashville. I constantly want to be back in Sacramento. I need to learn to love Nashville. It is a hard town to love unless you love music. Music is all around this town, but I want to see more….I need to get past the surface of music and see the beauty….find the beauty.
Yes, Jesus knew the city – the crowds, the noise, the endless deals, the flow of money, the heat, the cynicism, the heartache. Somehow, He saw something in the people the city had written off, things no one else saw. To be streetwise means to know the ropes, to keep anyone from taking advantage of you, to be tough. Jesus showed us a deeper kind of street wisdom. Jesus walked the streets, and as He did, His companions walked with Him. They puzzled about what He did in the city at the time.
Jesus didn’t grove up in the city. But He set His sights and headed toward the city with determination. In the end, as He expected the city crushed Him…But not really.
I want this year to be a year of finding beauty…walking the streets and seeing something different, experiencing something different.
What are some of the things you love about Nashville (or your own city)? Is there something about the city that you wish you could change?
Technorati Tags: Nashville, 2009, Love, City, Jesus, Change
January 4th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
That sounds like a really great book. I’ve only been to Nashville once, back in junior high when I won an entry into a national science fair (I was a nerd back then, lol…) All I remember is an amazing Italian restaurant – I wish I could remember the name!
Dubes last blog post..Late night and baby kittens
January 4th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Hey, where’d you find that illustration that you’re using as your logo/masthead? The “Starry Night Nashville”? It looks like a fridge magnet I just bought…
January 5th, 2009 at 1:01 am
Stephanie – umm I wish you could too…I love Italian, but have not found many good ones here..
Paul – I just did a google search for Nashville