I moved to Chicago about 10 days ago. It has been a complete whirlwind. Wheaton in Chicago orientation, beginning an internship at Heartland Alliance Health Outreach, making new friendships, visiting old friends, planning a wedding... (the last one brings about a smile every time I think about it)
I'm living in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago. Uptown is a unique place with a very interesting history. This neighborhood began as a vacation spot for city dwellers and through various events that shaped the neighborhood, became home to many immigrants, homeless folks, and families. Uptown is now the most diverse neighborhood in all of Chicago (which arguably makes it one of the best neighborhoods for restaurant choices!) and is in the midst of transformation, for better or for worse. In addition to great food, Uptown's status as the most diverse neighborhood in Chicago creates a neighborhood in which I literally feel doesn't have an 'average citizen.' My neighbors are homeless. They are wealthy. They are immigrants. Their families have lived in the United States for generations. They work as cashiers and they work in investments. My neighbors’ lives represent an incredible variety of situations. I am not homogenous with the individuals and families in my neighborhood, but in the same way, the other individuals and families in my neighborhood are not homogenous with one another. I'm beginning to see that because of our heterogeneity, we can teach one another about the beauty of diversity. I'm also realizing that we are the same inasmuch as we belong to one another in this shared neighborhood. The new background of this blog is a picture of a mural in Uptown. The caption at the bottom is difficult to see, but sums up my experience in this neighborhood so far, "Uptown, where diversity brings success."
I feel blessed to have the opportunity to learn from this city - from Uptown, from my neighbors, from government systems, from the CTA... In every task of every day I am learning. Where should I buy groceries to help create and sustain jobs in my neighborhood? Where can I go that is safe? Who are the places in my neighborhood safe for? Who are they not safe for? What are the people at Heartland facing each day? What are the stories of the people who come through our doors? How do I live distinctly Christian in this urban environment? What opportunities does living in Uptown present for me to become more like Jesus?
10 days into my semester in the city, I have more questions than answers. Actually.. I have questions, but no answers. I come to this place as a person who needs to be taught. At the same time, I recognize that my story and my experiences create a capacity for me to give to this place and these people. This place is sometimes loud, sometimes crowded, sometimes dirty, sometimes gross. These people are strangers, they are different, they are not mine.
but
This place is beautiful, diverse, and welcoming and these people are neighbors, future friends, and mine.
If home is where the Lord sends us, I am home.
