Today’s musing involves the classic debate on which is better: cities or nature. Residing in the great Pacific Northwest typically seems to make one undeniable prefer the great outdoors to the bustling bright lights of a metropolis. Unfortunately, I seem to be the odd man out when it comes to this preference. Of course I love nature, its God’s handiwork. As N.D. Wilson so beautifully articulates, creation is God’s art, the “stylized narrative revelation of an infinite personality.” You want proof that God exists? Look out the window. (This is especially true in my neighborhood, where the majestic Mt. Hood is a glance away and a simple twist of the head brings St. Helens into view). While most groups of my peers seem to prefer hiking, rock-climbing, rafting, and other activities that involve close contact with earth, there’s something about a city that creates the greatest pull on my psyche. Cozy coffee shops and vintage bookstores, hole-in-the-wall restaurants that inexplicably offer some of the tastiest food you’ll ever find, long streets twinkling with lights in the evening dusk, and endless opportunities for people watching. It’s fascinating to examine what WE, who were created by an infinite personality, have in turn imagined and implemented. There is an endless stream of variety available in a city, and there seems to be a sort of controlled chaos in urban living that benefits from the expansive and specific offerings found within the confines of the city limits. New York is the perfect example of the magic that can be found in a city. It’s hard to explain what it specifically is that draws me in, but I have yet to experience a place as delightful as Manhattan. Both of my visits have forever cemented the city in my heart. Other places have their own unique and sometimes spectacular auras: Portland, Boston, Philadelphia, D.C, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Baltimore, San Diego, heck, even Jersey had a, um, distinctive personality, but nothings beats New York. I once read a book on the process of creating Central Park, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted if I remember correctly, and the forethought and ingenuity that went into incorporating nature into the concrete jungle is fascinating. This wasn’t supposed to turn into a travel plug for NYC but I can’t help myself. Visit that city before you die. It’s not optional.
Anyway, back to generalities of cities. I was fortunate enough to have a whole class dedicated to the history and composition of cities in college, with field trips to P-town included. City layouts, parks, architecture, resource acquisitions, neighborhood congregates, cuisine, transportation; it’s a vast network of infrastructure and interactions that inspire awe. Of course there are two sides to every coin, and one will most certainly find heightened crime and homelessness in these urban gatherings, but still, I find it hard to find that level of human talent on display anywhere else.
To wrap up this mind blurb, I’d just like to say that if anyone’s interested, I would love to take a hike. Up 23rd Avenue that is. And climbing? If it’s up the stairs of the Portland Art Museum, I’m in. And if you prefer water sports, there is always the fountain off of Naito Parkway adjacent to the river. Just say’n. ;)
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| I wasn't kidding when I said I'm a fan... |
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| Portland's up there too, for the record |
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