Home

Home. Making a place for ourselves and all of God’s creatures to live in peace and harmony. Isn’t that what life is about?

It is so easy. Just look at the pictures that our pre-schoolers draw for us. Green Grass, colorful flowers, blue sky, a house with a front door and windows and shutters.

But beyond the innocence of children we confront a world of brokenness. A world where brother is against brother, where nation is against nation, and where humanity is destroying the very creation upon which we depend for our livelihoods.

In the face of this, 1/3 of our global brothers and sisters lack adequate shelter while some live in wealth beyond most of our imaginings. There seems to be no justice in the world

These days there is much talk about sustainability. There are many that are becoming aware of the fragile nature of the creation and the irreparable damage that human activity is causing to it. But this is nothing new. Many of us have been declaring this for our entire careers, but now political will is moving the winds of change.

Some believe that design is the answer. That with it we can communicate a better way, that we can inspire, persuade and sell the world a better future. And some believe that we can plan better cities, better buildings, to overcome the brokenness and the pain, the destruction we are bringing to ourselves and our world.

I agree that design is important, that we can design cities that are just and green. But the wisdom of old reminds us, “without a vision, the people perish.” Design without vision is pragmatic, a weak response to the catastrophe we face. To be successful, architecture and master planning require a vision that transcends the day to day, that sees that opportunities for the future in the light of the eternal. This vision is one in which we all are servants, to our neighbors, our clients, and the God who made all there is.

A sustainable future will require a generation of people that are willing to take responsibility for the impact of their lives on others. Who are willing to defend their homelands from wasteful habits and habitat destruction. Who are willing to be place makers in a world where so many have forgotten the designs they drew as little children.