Two of our sons, who live in California, recently came for a visit. It was great to have them and their significant others and our precious granddaughter here. We wanted to show off the city we have grown to love with the unashamed desire they might one day move here.
We limited our destinations to Lincoln City and Newport on the coast, Multnomah Falls, the Rose Garden and Saturday's Market. In the evening's we watched Autumn, while the two couples joined our Portland son and his fiancé to go out.
The week passed too quickly with the only cloud being the Saturday Market. http://www.vimeo.com/6019629 Lily and I have been in Portland since 2001, we love the eclectic atmosphere, and the freedom to be who you are that permeates this area. Unfortunately, one of my sons was very uncomfortable at the Saturday Market. None of our sons have ever had a problem with race or ethnicity, but the tattoos, hair and clothes made one son very uncomfortable.
To view Portland as a circus is unkind and short sighted. You have to look beneath all the hype and all the unchurched banter and focus on the heart of the people.
Nike's Hood to Coast Relay is an example of Portland's heart. After twenty-eight years it has grown into a full-scale event with 12,000 runners and 3500 volunteers. Everyone is welcome to participate and more and more people do.
This year one of Lily's clients participated for the first time. She wanted to do it so she could say that she did, but now she wants to do it again next year. You might ask why. Was it only because of the joy of seeing her husband and children rooting her on at the end? I'm sure that was part of it. But a big reason was the camaraderie, the encouragement, the cheers of the fellow participants as well as the volunteers. Beneath the colors and shapes and various opinions of a liberal city beats a community heart that genuinely encourages and helps anyone; regardless of gender, race, yes, even regardless of age, who is willing to participate.
Now, if only the job market and local church felt the same way.
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