How do we walk in the good way?

Washington, DC, where I have lived for thirteen years, is stunning at night. My favorite view of the city comes when I’m flying into Reagan Washington National Airport after dark: the bridge lights glistening on the Potomac, the monuments glowing, the Capitol sitting like a beacon on a hill. When I first moved here, I loved seeing the city from that airplane window, and I thought I loved the city.

What I’ve come to understand is that I can’t love a city from 10,000 feet. From up there, I can’t see who is out on the sidewalk or what the block has been through. Love that stays at a distance is something closer to admiration. Love that is real has to come down to the ground.

For me, it came down to a yellow bench on my front porch, where I sit many evenings to watch and greet and pray for my neighbors. It came down to the community garden in the alley behind my house, where we grow tomatoes and jalapeños together. It came down to a long table each Christmas Eve, when we open our home to the whole neighborhood for a Noche Buena party. And, many mornings and evenings, it comes down to a walk with my dog named Scooby, who is in no hurry at all… Continue reading with Cultivating Communities via Substack