The phrase "Make the community livable again" is lifted from Eugene Perterson's translation of Isaiah 58, perhaps my favorite passage in all of Scripture. That's pretty much the mission statement of my church. (I'm pastor of Vineyard Central Church in Norwood.)
So how are we accomplishing this mission? Here are some ways we're currently trying to live in this sprawling project and lifelong passion:
Playing in public. The area in front of our church building has become a hotspot of public play cornhole, sidewalk chalk, chess. Most nights during warm weather there are friendships being deepened or initiated via play.
Slowing down traffic. People speed up and down our street. In lieu of speed bumps that involve petitioning the city and big expenses the city can't pay and getting signatures, it dawned on me the other day to just put a bunch of bird seed in the middle of the street at that intersection. Only the cruelest person would try to run over a bunch of feeding birds, right? And I don't know anyone who would do it in front of a group of kids riding their bikes.
The short version: It worked. Drivers see the group of birds and slow down, the birds scatter and they proceed at a saner pace.
Make places for people to sit. A bench. A few chairs. If you build it, they will come. They will. I've seen it.
Greet everyone who walks by. It's simple, and we all know how to do it: eye contact, a smile and a "Hello." Would you rather live in a place where everyone warmly greeted each other or ignored each other? Take the initiative and say, "Hello." What's the worst that can happen?
Practice PDA (public displays of affection). These were strictly prohibited in my youth group, but now I can kiss my wife in public all I want. No, I'm not talking about groping, but simple kisses and hand holding display a warmth that's missing in many homes in our neighborhood.
Walk the dogs and have treats available for other dogs you meet. Dogs are awesome icebreakers. Treats are rarely if ever refused by the dog owners. Sometimes people shy away from random acts of kindness for themselves "I don't need nothing" is the attitude but if you want to bless their dog, they're all for it. For the bold or the dyslexic, try adding "Dog bless you" as you walk away from the encounter.
Above all, have fun and others will want to join you. Then the revolution of livableness will be underway in your 'hood in no time.
For more ideas like this, check out The Great Neighborhood Book by Jay Walliasper and The Project for Public Spaces at www.pps.org.
Contact Kevin Rains: letters@citybeat.com
