For the love of Parkland

It has been said that men do not love Rome because she's great; Rome is great because men love her.

With unabashed zeal, I announce the same for Parkland: I do not love Parkland because she is great; Parkland is great because I love her.

I have not heard many people say good things about Parkland, except that it boasts one of the best mini-golf courses in the South Sound—the infamous Parkland Putters. Other than that Parkland leaves much to be desired.

And rightly so, if one values great cities based on what one can get out of a city. But to abide in a city only to get or receive or consume would be the wrong purpose, the opposite of what it means to live in a city or to call one’s city home. This would be to not love one’s city, and to be apathetic, because the opposite of love is indifference, which can be expressed in passivity and listless boredom.

But love, at its core, is expressed in self-giving, sacrifice, suffering, which all means that it comes with great cost. Love is a passion—which at its root means suffering, not joy.

Many people say they ‘love’ their city only to mean they appreciate its beauty or majesty, which they could easily say about New York or Paris or London. But I daresay they would hardly give their lives for their city.

Unless they believe in her transformation and well-being.

I want to believe in Parkland’s transformation. I want to seek her peace. I want to love Parkland even if it costs me something. I want to spend my life for this place. I want to love her for better or for worse, for rich or for poor. I want to be for her like I’m for my wife.

I want to live in, work in, play in, rest in and serve this great city. And I will pray for this great city, for her transformation.

I believe Parkland will be great, because we will love her well.

*This blog is for the sake of Parkland, and everyone who lives in her, loves her, or perhaps at times dislikes her.