If people can’t see what God is doing,
they stumble all over themselves;
But when they attend to what he reveals,
they are most blessed.
Proverbs 29.18 in Eugene Peterson’s The Message
What do you see when you look at the below photo of the sinking and permanently closed public washroom in Toronto’s Taylor Creek Park? That’s right. It’s sinking. How much, I’m not sure. But certainly enough that the City has permanently closed it. I don’t know the whole history behind it, and I doubt it’s very elaborate or even interesting, but essentially the structure is just sitting there. According to Janet Davis, the City of Toronto councillor for Ward 31, which includes the park, there are no plans to reopen it. That is, no plans from the City. But that shouldn’t be a real obstacle to NGOs, even charitable ones like most faith communities (e.g. church, school, campus club).
Wetland and out of commission public washroom in Taylor Creek Park, Toronto
So no plans, eh? It takes a lot of mental effort to keep my busy mind from developing and connecting ideas when I’m out exploring. This is especially the case in quieter spaces such as Toronto’s ravines, and even more so when running in Taylor Creek Park–my neighbourhood greenspace–and its connected ravines of Taylor-Massey Creeks, so it’s difficult to know what’s of God, what’s of my own imagination or a bit of both. Regardless of whether the visionary idea I have been formulating (at least within my mind it’s visionary and well thought out!) is of God or something God wants me to be a part of coordinating, I’m not sure. That’s not the point. It’s about having a vision for the neighbourhoods where we live. Not just in an etherial way, but in a tangible manner that’s ideally relevant to a faith community in which we belong or to the larger community (e.g. neighbourhood, school, ward, watershed) in which we are citizens–and hopefully belong!
Plans change. It’s expected. But no plans begin, at least not ones involving and relying upon members of the community, without first establishing a shared vision.
Share your vision with me, however brief (one sentence) or long (within reason!). Then by the end of next week, I’ll share my vision for the public washroom–and more, since it’s certainly not limited to that structure!–in my next blog entry. To share your visionary idea(s), post your comment(s) below. I’ll consider everyone’s ideas–mine is evolving–so if something comes to you, whether you think it’s from God, your own imagination or a bit of both, please do share them with me. ‘Your’ idea, as well, might even be someone else’s and you might ‘just’ be messenger or scribe. Whatever the case, don’t be shy! Be courageous!!!
A suggestion: unless you do some of your most creative–but grounded–thinking in your bathroom, get outside, move and, if you live close enough, perhaps even visit Taylor Creek Park. If you want to find the public washroom, enter “+43°42’2.22″, -79°19’1.62” into an online mapping program or a GPS handheld. Have fun!
During your visioning exercise, if you’re thinking about visiting Taylor Creek Park, either be sure to relieve yourself before your visit, or be prepared to use the more natural and open facilities for which our four-footed friends are, well, more accustomed.
