When we come to it
My family and I used to take vacations to the Jersey Shore when my grandparents (on my mom’s side) were still alive. Our destination was located on a barrier island connected by the Ingram Thorofare Bridge, which we nicknamed ‘the Causeway.’ The Causeway was mostly a welcoming sight to our family. The view meant that our cramped two days in the car were over, and we would soon see our East Coast family, the bridge itself terrified my mom.
This long stretch of raised road passes over inlets and runs upwards like a hill. Under the Causeway is a large body of water. You can’t see traffic on the other side as you drive up this ‘hill.’ The drop on the other side is full of swiftly appearing twists and turns while cars speed past you. Yet, this Causeway, as much as the bridge scared my mom, still connected us to what we called ‘our happy place.’
I think of my mom’s courage to drive across the Causeway whenever I cross the one bridge that makes me nervous—the Rock Island Arsenal Bridge. It took me only one trip across the low narrow bridge to realize the rattling sounds and metal against my tires that made me anxious enough to grip my steering wheel just a little tighter. It felt like one wrong move and my car would lose traction on that slippery metal.
It reminds me of the saying “We’ll cross that bridge when we come it.” To me, that phrase implies a worry of crossing something too early, whether physically or figuratively. Are we ready to cross that bridge now or do we want to put it off until we can’t anymore? Bridges are designed to be safe and pleasant to cross, but maybe there is a bridge in our lives that makes us nervous. When we cross into new exciting chapters in our lives, such as retirement, changing jobs, starting a new school or program, does the crossing also bring a little worry? Is there a bridge that causes us to grip our steering wheels for dear life because we don’t know what is on the other side?
When we cross bridges that bring worry or we’re unsure what’s on the other side, it helps to remember that we’re crossing a bridge that brings us to God, who is with us throughout all of our crossings. Through Jesus Christ, our bridge, we will always be connected to God, who continues to connect us to one another as we cross many bridges in our lives. Through Christ, we are eternally connected to ‘our happy place,’ which is our home with God and our life together as a community of faith.
Deborah Lamp
What a great message, I strongly believe God is my strength and rely on this faith when going over bridges or uncertain times in my life. Thank you
Dixie Kutzbach
I love this, Maddy! We can all relate to this.
Connie King
Great message! Appreciate the thought.
Paul Tyler
That’s why I did most of the driving. Bridges are not what I fear. It’s roadblocks or impassable obstacles. Still, it’s all easier with a companion.
Quentin Fleming
Jesus has been our “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” through several difficult times in our lives. Thank you for your story.
Phyllis Hofer
Beautiful message!