The Bridge
By: Maxine M


Cars, trucks & buses, all in a hurry, kept mid-day traffic flowing
Bumper to bumper, passing here and there...remember, right lane is for slowing
The winds of disaster, none realized were silently blowing

Then, the unthinkable happens!! The bridge collapses without warning
Rescue workers and bystanders, quickly to the scene are swarming
Many victims are pulled from the river...other families are left mourning

The nation watched on television, all were in shock & disbelief
Phone calls were made...a simple "hello" never brought such relief
How could such a thing happen?! Did neglect bring about this grief?

The bridge's pillars had been set deep in the river below
But time, weight & stress had made cracks begin to show
Loss of strength had gone undetected, reinforcement would have been the way to go

Bridge inspections increased all across America's homeland
To see for certain just how long these, also, could safely stand
Would they survive the strain & pressure years of use can demand?

Without much thought, we all cross bridges nearly everyday
A Bridge: that which lifts you up--carries you across whatever deters your way
Then rivers, streams, creeks, gorges or ravines are navigated without delay

In our individual lives, there are "GAPS" we must bridge as well
To cross from the CERTAIN to the unknown, all those "life" situations in which we dwell
Now every bridge needs SECURE pylons, not only to LAST but to EXCELL

Bridges take us from here to there, but also BACK again the other way
So be careful a bridge isn't BURNT by actions or the words we say!
Because life is ever changing, on which side do we need to stay?

Let us examine ourselves to see if "footings" are still secure
That our primary pillars of LOVE and FAITH...will a lifetime endure
That their strength & integrity are unimpaired...is the composition pure?

Life's highway is difficult...can not simply be set on "cruise"
ESSENTIAL is the rock solid pillar of HOPE...supports the bridge we daily use
By DILIGENCE...feelings of dispair, frustration, hopelessness...we can diffuse

Friends, family, fellow believers...all part of the SUPPORT structure we NEED
Those pillars of confidence and encouragement are needed to succeed
The pillar of the knowledge that, from sin's judgement, we've been freed

Because our Saviour died on the cross, as was the Father's predetermined plan
His OUTSTRETCHED ARMS formed a bridge between God and sinful fallen man
Time and eternity will only confirm the "soundness" of this Holy span

So, as we travel life's peaks and valleys, dangerous twists or unseen turn
Set your course with STEADFASTNESS, because this we should learn...
We CAN trust THIS BRIDGE to get us to the destination for which we yearn