Brookside Church

Reading: Imagine our City

We recently heard that although among the favourites, Reading failed to officially gain ‘City Status’ in celebration of the Queen’s Jubilee. Reading is really a city in all but name, and has received a European Award as a micro city of the future. I wrote a piece to coincide with ‘gaining city status’ and then thought it pointless. In reading it again, the imaginations described apply regardless. So here it is:   Imagine our city as an environment of endless possibilities and dreams.   A place where success is applauded and a key measure is individual personal development - whatever and wherever the starting place.   Imagine a culture where encouragement and affirmation are the norm, without agenda or control, and where kindness can be found in all walks of life and activity.   To be specific;

Imagine a city whose citizens:

• Look out for the interests of their neighbours, and demonstrate genuine care and compassion to one another
• Treat one another as they themselves would like to be treated
• Live in peace and harmony together - showing mutual respect and tolerance
• Leave environments and situations better than they found them
• Ensure that, in so far as they are able, every place is safe and secure
• Encourage and affirm their children and young people whenever the opportunities arise
• Are reliable, trustworthy and hard working
• Care for those who are vulnerable, particularly the elderly, disabled or infirm
• Value one another for who they are, as well as for what they contribute to their communities

Imagine a city whose leaders:

• Exercise their roles without the need for personal gain and approval
• Model integrity and live by example in attitude, action and word
• Place their politics and interests as secondary in pursuit of the well-being of the city and its citizens
• Take every opportunity to inspire and encourage people to visualise the possibilities, and to embrace fresh imagination and vision
• Encourage the elimination of systemic poverty and facilitate this by actively enabling and encouraging the business, faith and voluntary sectors

Imagine a city whose companies and businesses:

• Incorporate values that encourage employees to love working for them
• Are always ready to partner with local charities and organisations who are best placed to improve quality of life for those who suffer
• Contribute towards the care and enjoyment of the environment they are located in
• Have a vision and purpose which includes ongoing transformation and sustainability of the region their workers live in
• Measure achievement and goals by more than financial profits and statistics
• Honour and respect marriage and family life by recognizing the need for a stable and strong home, and not creating demands which threaten family relationships
• Reward workers not only for measured economic success but for individual character, perseverance and reputation among peers and partners

Imagine a city:

• Whose citizens health improves every year because the environment (in its widest sense) is continually improving
• Where healthy living and exercise is encouraged and accessible for everyone
• Where people resist passivity and embrace a fresh passion for the well-being, identity and reputation of Reading
• Where creativity and innovation are esteemed and celebrated, and architecture and visual expressions of creativity continue to grow in stimulating the population to a stronger sense of belonging and identity
• Where the success of its sporting teams, artists, actors, writers, creators, media contributors, designers and entrepreneurs are celebrated and proud of their heritage and home
• Where members of the population are afforded every encouragement to achieve amazing things and then willingly re-invest back into the city of Reading

We can help each other to fully play our part in an on-going transformation of our city as we imagine what can be, and then change our mind-sets and prayers to help birth what will be. How we think of our city and speak about it will become a marker for a positive attitude and experience in the future 

(Author: Steve Prince)

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