Saturday, January 21, 2006

Urbanisation


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

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?

12 comments:

Amanda Hunt said...

I agree with you Kitty that there are lost people everywhere, I don't believe that 'location' is what defines you as a missionary but it is a common misconception. There are more than 'some' who live in tribes though, did you know that there are over 900 languages in Papua New Guinea alone? Thats not counting dialects!
I think that the task is so great that if we start to ponder the enormity of it then we can be so overwhelmed. It's better to just get on with the small part we have to play regardless of location. This is something I've come to the conclusion of!

audrey` said...

Urbanisation
Your title reminds me of a very important component for my Geography lessons during my student's days.
Those were the carefree and innocent days.
The giggles and the laughters.
Girly talks!
HaHa!

Kitty Cheng said...

Amanda,I agree with you. It's better to be faithful in the small part that God called us to play regardless of location isn't it?

Kitty Cheng said...

Audrey, so what did you learn in your Geography lessons about ubanisation?

Godwyn Lim said...

Wonderful Post! Awesome reading!

Kitty I actually spend quite a number of years in Melbourne, from year 1996 to 2002. [I do travel to other parts of down under]

Just that Melbourne brings me back to my emotional wound that is still healing via the Lord. Thus, I didn't relate it to you...I do miss Melbourne though...

"He Heals the brokenhearted And Binds up their wonds." Psalm 147:3

Jesus loves us heaps! Amen?!

An Ordinary Christian said...

Kitty, so agree with you about all the people in cities who don't know, who haven't heard the gospel. Loved what you said about broken hearts. The Great Physician heals those who reside closely with Him.

Kitty Cheng said...

Thanks Godwyn. Actually I have experienced heaps of emotional trauma and heartaches here in Melbourne too, and can relate to you in being healed by the Lord. Psalm 147:3 is a great verse isn't it?

Amen Jesus loves us very much!

audrey` said...

Yes Kitty :)
Jesus loves us very much!
I love you very much too! HeHe!
**HUGS**

Curious Servant said...

Nice post. Of course I liked the Job references.

Kitty Cheng said...

Andrea, yes our Great Physician is awesome!

Kitty Cheng said...

Audrey, you're so sweet. I love you very much too. ***HUGS**

Kitty Cheng said...

Thanks CS. I've learned a lot from your blog about Job.