Comments on: The Soul of the City http://openabbey.org/urban_life/the-soul-of-the-city/ exploring contemplative spirituality in the city Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:28:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Zack http://openabbey.org/urban_life/the-soul-of-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Zack Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:10:58 +0000 http://openabbey.org/wordpress/?p=24#comment-5 Thanks for your thoughts guys - it's interesting to me that you both mention people as a life-giving part of the city. It's really true - especially in the diversity, difference, and complexity of people in the city. That we would look into the diversity of people around us and ask, "what can I learn from them" (as Jason hints at) is really vital to the life of the city and to the life within us. Tyler - I too struggle to be present to the many characters & personalities around me because I am too busy moving on to "my" next thing. Thanks for your thoughts guys – it’s interesting to me that you both mention people as a life-giving part of the city. It’s really true – especially in the diversity, difference, and complexity of people in the city. That we would look into the diversity of people around us and ask, “what can I learn from them” (as Jason hints at) is really vital to the life of the city and to the life within us. Tyler – I too struggle to be present to the many characters & personalities around me because I am too busy moving on to “my” next thing.

]]> By: Tyler Savage http://openabbey.org/urban_life/the-soul-of-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-4 Tyler Savage Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:53:19 +0000 http://openabbey.org/wordpress/?p=24#comment-4 Life-giving: People, more than any other aspect, the chance to be around and collaborate with people of different backgrounds, with different passions, and different outlooks - that's what gives me the most energy in the city. And the interactions that ensue. Life-Stealing: When getting through or moving on to "my" next thing keeps me from seeing/taking part in those interactions. There is a momentum in the city that is great, but sometimes it becomes about keeping up and getting through which steals the life out from under us. Life-giving: People, more than any other aspect, the chance to be around and collaborate with people of different backgrounds, with different passions, and different outlooks – that’s what gives me the most energy in the city. And the interactions that ensue.

Life-Stealing: When getting through or moving on to “my” next thing keeps me from seeing/taking part in those interactions. There is a momentum in the city that is great, but sometimes it becomes about keeping up and getting through which steals the life out from under us.

]]> By: Jason Ayers http://openabbey.org/urban_life/the-soul-of-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-2 Jason Ayers Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:26:53 +0000 http://openabbey.org/wordpress/?p=24#comment-2 Even when I attempt to prepare myself for it, I still manage to walk out of a Target or Wal-Mart with an impending feeling of doom. These are machines designed to extract money and have little regard for anything else. In contrast, I get a feeling of genuine warmth every time I visit an independent coffee shop, restaurant or gallery in downtown Phoenix. Yes there are some seriously damaged people in our community, but I don't wish to be hidden from them. Our interactions are how I continue to be educated in the wide range of human character and spirit. Even when I attempt to prepare myself for it, I still manage to walk out of a Target or Wal-Mart with an impending feeling of doom. These are machines designed to extract money and have little regard for anything else.

In contrast, I get a feeling of genuine warmth every time I visit an independent coffee shop, restaurant or gallery in downtown Phoenix. Yes there are some seriously damaged people in our community, but I don’t wish to be hidden from them. Our interactions are how I continue to be educated in the wide range of human character and spirit.

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