Chapter Five

The twelve gates were twelve pearls,
each gate made of a single pearl.
The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.
Revelation 21:21

City of Truth

I was born in Chicago, where I grew up simply, sweetly and serenely. While honeymooning in Germany, I would hear, “Ha! Chicago! Gangsterstadt!!”
Not my Chicago. My Chicago is a city of truth, a city where Jew and Arab work side by side, a city where a black man reaches out and saves the life of a white child, or brings a small comfort to a stranger.

My Chicago is beautiful and powerful. There are pillars and gates at the end of each block where I grew up. But they are open gates, gates made not to keep people out, but as an ever-open welcome for all to come in.

And come in they did! Starting with Grandpa and Grandma from Russia, Paul and Domenica Davidovich. And Grandpa and Grandma from Italy, Oronzo and Giovianne Spinello. Yes, Davidovich, “Son of David,” and Spinello, “Little Thorn.”

Here I am, a rose with a little thorn from the house of David in the city of truth. That’s me. That’s what God made me to be. That’s where I will do my work.

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