Words of Life - Bridges

Building bridges

The Salvation Army’s daily devotional reading – Words of Life, has an interesting message for today. It’s about bridges. It begins with “Some claim that every bridge requires a life.” The writer Major Evelyn Merriam goes on to talk about John Roebling who lost his life in an accident during the site survey when the Brooklyn Bridge was being built. He was the one who drew the plans for the bridge. He left his son Washington to complete the task.”

The writer continues, “But Washington Roebling was paralysed from the effects of extreme air pressure at the great underwater depth where he inspected preparations for the building. So he watched the construction through binoculars while his wife, Emily, became his on-site representative until the bridge’s completion. She was the first to cross the bridge at its opening twenty years after its conception.”

I remember as a child, I was often told not to go out at night when it’s dark. My mother used to threaten us with the belief that there would be big burly men who carried big shears going round cutting off peoples’ heads. These heads would then be thrown into the river where a bridge was to be built! We were told that bridges require souls of the dead to hold them up! We kids were gullible enough to believe these myths and superstitions!

Each culture has its own myths, fables and superstitions! How important it is that we be wise and not be misled by all kinds of false teaching. Don’t forget to read the Bible, God’s message to us.

Let us reflect on what Major Merriam has to say to us today. “What does building a spiritual bridge to introduce others to Christ cost? Does it demand a life? According to what we recently read in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus tells his followers that it does (16: 24-26) Christian bridge-building goes beyond evangelism to discipleship and costly fellowship with other believers. The Apostle John tells us; ‘This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for others.’ (1 John 3. 16)”

My wife and I read everyday “Words of Life.” In fact we began many years ago reading its predecessor “The Soldier’s Armoury.” We’ve not missed one issue. We’ve been much blessed.

Ask your Corps Officer (pastor) for your copy, read it and you won’t regret doing so.