The Gift of a Bridge

One of my favorite walks in NYC is from Brooklyn to Manhattan. This bridge has stood the test of time. 

Positive Pensées

Kathy King

The Gift of a Bridge

“We build too many walls and not enough bridges.”

Isaac Newton

A bridge often represents a transition

From one plane of land to the next. 

Bridges can span large amounts of water from one destination to the next. 

Bridges can be lofty and very tall.

Bridges can be very small with a little space to navigate. 

Bridges can be ancient, they have stood the test of time.

Some bridges are quite daunting and can take a lot of nerve to navigate. 

Others are quiet and beautiful with lovely views to appreciate. 

Don’t be afraid of the bridge. 

Relax and take a deep cleansing breath. 

Those transitions are necessary and needed to make it through the dance of life. 

Cross those bridges, be brave. 

Be kind.

Be useful, be gracious, give wisdom in that space. 

Remember each bridge is a wonderful opportunity to do something quite great. 

Build robust pillars, make sure your girders are strong. 

Make your bridge a marvel to others. 

Teach them, bring them across the bridge. 

To a place of peace, a place of calm.

What is the most impressive bridge that you have ever crossed? Did you cross on foot or ride across? It is a simple yet profound idea. What do bridges do? The transition us to the other side. Sure, you could get a boat if you really wanted, but I would wager it would take a little bit longer. There are folks who are terrified to drive across bridges. There are paid “bridge drivers” that meet folks at their car near the bridge and drive them across. Some have to close their eyes just to make it. They are so scared of the vast expanse of water or the canyon, or the drop that lies beneath them that it causes crushing anxiety. My husband is very interested in civil engineering. So much so that we have made countless trips across bridges and seen some pretty impressive dams. They all transition water to other places, whether it is in a controlled sense of a dam, or crossing over the river via a bridge. In each instance the foundation is key. During the world wide bug that kept us all at home, we had an occasion to watch many documentaries about bridges. One such bridge is the famous bridge that pretty much everyone knows that is located in San Francisco. The Golden Gate Bridge. Its story of construction is quite interesting. It started around 1933, during the height of the Great Depression. Anyone that was able bodied was considered for work. Divers had to dive down to great depths to detonate explosives in the water so that the pillars could be constructed. Great holes are dug to help distribute the load of the bridge when cars and people start to cross. That concept alone is quite mind boggling. To add to the daunting task, this was the first bridge that was built on the open ocean. This really shows the indomitable strength of the human spirit, does it not? Those who scaled those quite daunting heights had a term for those who fell into the safety net called themselves the “Halfway to Hell” club. Another very interesting bridge story was that of “Galloping Gertie” in Washington state. This bridge collapsed the same year it was built. Some very strong winds caused the girders to fail pretty spectacularly. Because of the poor construction, the bridge collapsed. You can see videos of the collapse online. Why did it collapse? The engineers used narrow girders to make the bridge, they were not strong enough and when the weather was harsh, the bridge collapsed. I have been blessed to cross the reconstructed Tacoma Narrows Bridge. It is a beautiful sight to cross the Puget sound. There are other bridges that come to mind, the Brooklyn Bridge is quite impressive to walk across. One year I went with our sons to New York, they were quite afraid when we walked across. The cars whizzing by under our feet, the river under us, and the Statue of Liberty in the distance. As we made our way across, we transitioned into the borough of Manhattan. I also love the Manhattan Bridge, there is also a very old bridge that crosses the Limmat river in Switzerland. It is ancient, has statues, and is beautiful. This week is the second week of Advent. In the Christian faith, Christ came to bring peace. Do we not need it at the moment? Sometimes peace comes through transition. Sometimes peace means to cross that bridge even when you are scared or anxious. Why? Because on the other side is that peace that you are longing for. If your pillars are strong and deep into the ground that is sure and stable you can cross. If your girders are thick and robust, you can make it across. If your steel cables are held together by strength, prayer, and faith.. You can traverse that bridge to the other side. What is the point of all of this? Well, if you have good construction, you can cross even when the bridge is long and the land is not right in front of you. You can cross and perhaps find that much needed peace. You don’t have to be a “Galloping Gertie” fraught with uncertain strength, but rather a bridge that has stood the test of time no matter what weighty situations come your way. May we have peace. 

My books are on Amazon!

The Quacktastic Adventures of Ellie and Lord Barks a Lot

The Case of the Missing Moo-Cow Bell

The Case of the Missing Bumbly Wumbly Bee

The Case of the Missing Wellies

The Case of the Missing Honk Honk

The Case of the Missing Ornaments

Clean it Up! Wash it Up!

Coming soon!

Appalachian Allegory: A Southern Novel

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