The House on the Urban Edge
By Thomas Eickhoff
Nav Stakeholder in Minneapolis
"If you go to the barber shop enough times, you are eventually going to get a haircut" - Brian, on whether it's possible to grow up in the inner city and not do drugs.
Brian is an African-American I met while in Baton Rouge helping evacuees from New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. I went down after seeing a newscast where an elderly African-American pleadingly asked, "Where is everyone? Where's the help?" The answer? I was sitting on my duff on the sofa watching TV. I got up and drove 26 hours straight.
Brian came back, for a time, to Minneapolis with me. I learned much from him. His world is very different. I found relating with him was as much a cross-cultural experience as it was with Russians on the other side of the world.
A few years ago, when I found out I had Parkinson's, I realized I would eventually need a more handicap-accessible home. I was unsure of where to look as I am drawn to different areas of ministry – Russia (many trips while on staff), arts and design (Via Affirmativa), and inner city African-Americans.
Over time, I concluded I could do Russia and the arts from the inner city. Of Minneapolis's inner city neighborhoods, I was drawn to "North". One reason was it is considered the worst area for crime and drugs. It is the worst area for an African-American kid to grow up. There is much working against him. There are many Brians.
Just one problem – I hate city living. I grew up on a farm in the country amongst hills and woods and creeks and deer and wild turkeys - not typical of inner city living.
After months of looking for a home and not finding one that "fit", I decided to try something different. I decided to first find the home and then ask if it was for sale.
It turns out that on the west border of North Minneapolis is an 800-acre park, some of it left in its natural state. I found there to be a block of homes with double deep lots whose second lot flows into the park. Two looked like possibilities. I decided to stop by the next day and ask if either was interested in selling.
The next morning, out of habit, I checked for new listings. There on my block was a NEW house icon. One of my two houses had come on the market! Overnight. Of the hundreds of thousands of homes in the Twin Cities, one of the two I had chosen comes on the market the morning following the evening I chose it? I didn't even need to pray about this one.
I now own a North Minneapolis home. Out my front windows is the city skyline and "North" with all the issues of urban inner-city living. Out my back windows - hills, woods, creeks, and a lake along with wild turkeys and deer (who sleep in the backyard) – life on the edge - the house on the urban edge.
While I do not know what God has in store, I know from the house experience, I'm where I should be.
I would appreciate prayers for my "lake home" to sell and for new connections at the "urban edge" ... and for what to do in design and Russia. I post things at kyriete.com if interested in more of the journey.