It is an odd feeling to be standing inside an abandoned army bunker looking down over the San Francisco Bay and seeing nothing. The sound of cars whirring by below fills my ears and fog mists over me like a gentle rain. The foliage I can see reminds me of a forsaken rain-forest and I am struck by the gentle serenity of a place that used to be filled with violence, anti-air missals, and large machine guns.
As we hop in the car and meander down the narrow coastal road I have to smile a bit at the beauty of God's artwork and wonder at the throngs of people who unknowingly pass by it every day.
Now as I write I can't help but see a parallel between Christ's redeeming love and the craziness of our hectic lives. So many times I find myself being distracted by things that seem good but missing the most important or beautiful things that God has to offer. Much like walking right by a beautiful waterfall or serene and majestic rain-forest in favor of the draws of the concrete jungle. There are so many interesting and amazing things to do and experience in a city but there is no real comparison there for simple beauty found in nature. There is something to the saying, "Take time to smell the roses." Enjoy the complexities of everyday life but take time to slow down and enjoy the little things, the simple beauty that can be found if one takes the time to simply look for it. I'm beginning to believe that those things really give life meaning. Like small gifts from God to make us smile :)
