San Francisco

San Francisco is a most engaging city!  From the moment you catch the first glance of the north tower of the Golden Gate Bridge as you come around a bend while travelling along Highway 101 on the Waldo Grade from Marin County to San Francisco, you are captivated by the uniqueness of the city.  As we approached the bridge yesterday on our way to my wife’s quarterly visit with one of her medical specialists, the towers of the grand orange bridge were ensconced in puffy white clouds, with the exception of the very tops which were visible against the overcast  skies that had begun to clear as the first storm of the season passed through.

After negotiating the automated toll booths, we drove along Lombard Street as it borders the bay.  Looking back toward the bridge you can get a spectacular view of the Golden Gate and of Fort Point which is the Civil War era fort that resides at the southern side of the bridge.  The US Army began construction on this fort in 1853.  It was designed with seven foot masonry walls typical of the 30 “Third System” forts that dotted the East Coast.  Fort Point was the only such fort on the West Coast.  A year later, the Inspector General was quoted as declaring “this point as the key to the whole Pacific Coast… and it should receive untiring exertions.”  In 1861 after eight years of construction and with the war looming, the army mounted the fort’s first cannon.

Throughout the Civil War the artillerymen at Fort Point stood guard for the enemy that never came.  After the war the effectiveness of the masonry designed forts was challenged due to the severe damage inflicted upon similar forts such as Fort Sumter in South Carolina.  The troops at the Fort were soon reassigned and it was never continuously occupied by the army again.  It was deemed important enough though, to receive protection from the harsh elements of the bay throughout the ensuing years.

In the early 1930’s the fort was slated to be removed due to the upcoming construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, but Chief Engineer George Strauss redesigned the bridge in order to save the fort.  He cited that it should “be preserved and restored as a national monument.”  The fort sits directly under an archway that supports the southern approach to the bridge. *

From Lombard we turned right onto Divisadero Street and traveled up the dramatically iconic hills of San Francisco past the magnificent post 1906 earthquake mansions of Pacific Heights, through the neighborhood businesses that line the street near Alamo Square and Haight Street and eventually entered into the Castro District where the CPMC Hospital and Medical Offices, as well as the Brain Health Center is located.

While all the landmarks that we passed are the same, the sights and sounds of San Francisco are always fresh and dynamic!  Everywhere you look exciting things are happening.  From the sailboats and huge container ships that ply the bay, to the tall buildings that peak out as you look down the side streets toward the center of town, to the cosmopolitan flavor of the city that is demonstrated through all the different nationalities of people who are busily walking through the city streets.  There is always something new and exciting going on.  Like I said, it is always fresh and stimulating to the senses!

As we drove home last night, I referenced these thoughts to my wife as I reflected on our appointment with the medical team at the Brain Center.  I was elated as my wife received a glowing report.  Her condition not only continues to be stabilized, but in fact is looking better.  The Nurse Practioner commented that Piper looked better than she would have thought and we were instructed to continue with what we have been doing. 

I had prayed that my wife would be alert at the appointment and she did not let me down!  She was very aware of everything that was going on, sat up and responded as the Nurse Practioner interacted with her, laughed, and even said a few things while she kept smiling at her.  The staff could not get over how good she looked!

As we talked about this in the midst of the slow moving traffic all the way home, I was just overwhelmed with the faithfulness of God to His Word.  Numbers 23:19 declares “What he has said, will he not do? And will he not give effect to the words of his mouth.” (Bible in Basic English)  Even though He continually demonstrates His faithfulness to us, I am still overwhelmed by how fresh and dynamic His word and His answers are!  It is like my impressions of San Francisco.  It’s always the same, but yet it is always fresh, dynamic and exciting!

God’s Word and the promises It contains is always consistent and steady, but yet it always comes to past in new and different ways.  I believe that one reason He does it this way is because He likes to keep it exciting to us!  He doesn’t want anything to become stale or routine to us!  His love for you and me is always current, fresh and increasing!  Isn’t God good!

So, I would encourage you today to never let your relationship with Him become routine!  Keep it fresh and stimulating to your senses!  Keep trusting Him with everything in your life and allow Him to surprise and excite you with His faithfulness as He continuously gives “effect to the words of his mouth!”  Have a terrific day.  Stay in tune to His Word, and keep asking yourself… “What exciting, fresh and new things am I expecting from God today?”

 *For more information see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Point,_San_Francisco