coatesville

i've lived near this city my whole life, but for the most part rarely spent time in it. sure there were the occasional church outreaches, but i never invested too much time. for the last 2 months though i've been in this city almost every day. the more time i spend here the more i feel myself becoming invested in it.

each morning on my drive into the city as i'm coming down blackhorse hill road the view opens up and there the city lies, seemingly peaceful and quiet. a few blocks further and you understand it's anything but as it's abuzz with people moving around and chatting with one another. i think i figured out one of the things i love about life here. it reminds me of being in another country. by that i mean that everything is so community-driven. relationships with one another are #1 and you don't have to leave the confines of your car to see that.

after being cooped up in suburbia for so long i realize now that it's not all it's cracked up to be. i don't know my neighbors needs or even their names for that matter. a desire for more space has created just that: space between our neighbor, both physically and relationally. it's sad that it has come to that, but in most rural neighborhoods it's true.

sure, coatesville has it's problems like any other city in america, but they have one thing right. they know what it means to take time to stop and chat with you neighbor, even if it makes you late for your next appointment. as a task-oriented person this is new territory for me, but i'm learning to adjust and it's fun.

i believe in the people of this city. i believe that there is undiscovered talent and potential and if i can help even just one person discover that, then it's all worth it.