Urbanisation

"Urban attitude" is a funky shop in the famous Federation Square in Melbourne

Recently I have been thinking quite a bit about mission in the urban contexts (particularly Melbourne in my context). According to one of World Team 's brochures, it is a common misconception that only people living in remote or exotic locations are untouched by the Gospel. While some may still live in tribal or rural groups, an increasing majority reside in some of the world's largest cities (eg: New York, Sydney, Toronto, Paris & London etc). World Team's ministries are as diverse as the people we serve.

Job 24:12 said "From the city men groan, and the souls of the wounded cry out" . The image of the city is a busy metropolis: speed, movement, noise, rows of buildings, lots of apartments, houses, restaurants, stores,public transport, cars, motor-bikes, bikes and children etc - all that are easily seen and heard by the city dwellers (of which I am one).

But there is more. Behind and beneath the human busy activities are invisible aches. Job calls them "groans." That's a good word. It seems that this groan comes from one who has been wounded emotionally. Perhaps that's the reason why Job adds the next line in poetic form in verse 12, "the souls of the wounded cry out." I think Job is speaking of those whose hearts have been broken . The city is full of such sounds-the wounded, bruised, and broken, crying out in groans from the heart. That describes some of us, I am certain (cos I've experienced it many times in my life).

Tucked away in the corner of every life are wounds, bruises and scars. If they were not there, we would not need so many doctors, counsellors or psychologists. But I reckon only the Greatest Physician can turn our ugly wound into a scar of beauty. Only He can heal the pain and sin in our past and make us whole again.

The city is a place full of poetry filled with eyes and ears. The eyes are lights in the city areas. Ears are the walls that keep all secrets. There are a lot of culture, stories on the life of those who live inside the walls.

According to Cecilia Farfan, from Mexico City. The word "CITY" is an acroynm that has a meaning in each letter, and I find it very interesting.
C is for Culture
I is for Imagination
T is for Talking
Y is for You gecause you make the city shine and be alive.

So do you live / work in an urbanised context? And how do you feel about the city that you are in and the people there? Are you involved in the culture, imagination, talking and shining in the city?