Like a Bridge over Troubled Water

Bridges have always fascinated me. How can such a structure be built over crevices, valleys, water, other roads, etc.; support the incredible weight of trains and cars, and yet still manage to stand firm? Sure, some bridges have collapsed but the ones that have withstood the test of time, probably have millions of stories that they could tell.

I will never forget the first time we went to the New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia. I had seen a picture of the bridge on the back of their US State Quarter and a friend had given me a postcard of it. I was amazed! This massive bridge was, for many years, the world's longest steel bridge (3,030 feet long across the New River and New River Gorge); and has an impressive height of 876 feet above the river. (The Washington Monument itself could be placed in the river and not reach the top of this bridge.) While on the way to Long Island, NY, we went to West Virginia (don't ask about the reason we went so far out of the way), and one of our stops was to see the New River Gorge Bridge. I was driving and upon driving across it, you really have no realization upon what you have just driven across. There is a park where you can stop and hike thru the mountains to obtain different views of the bridge, and I was awestruck. It was almost paralyzing to realize that you had just driven across such a beast. Pictures cannot do this structure justice; you have to see it in person. Can you only imagine the stories that the New River Gorge Bridge could tell -- the winter weather conditions it has seen, the people who have jumped from the bridge (hold up, let me clarify, they have a day each year, where people will bungee jump from the bridge!)...oh!, what stories this gorgeous structure could tell, if it could only speak.


Most bridges are man-made, but there are some that have been here since the world was created, these are (as I call them) God-created or God-given bridges. One of those is the Natural Bridge in Virginia. This State Park features a variety of caves, waterfalls, animals, hiking trails, etc., but the main feature is what is referred to as the "Natural Bridge". The formation of the mountain rock creates what appears to be a actual bridge of sorts. It is quite a beautiful sight. A small stream of water runs beneath the bridge and that adds to it's natural beauty. Can you imagine what stories this all-natural formation could tell -- the people who have visited it, touched it, etc. It is amazing to see the beauty of God's creation.


Probably my most favorite of all bridges is what I have always referred to as "My" bridge. It is located in downtown Wilmington, North Carolina, and it is an centerpiece for the city. The historic drawbridge in downtown Wilmington crosses the Cape Fear River connecting New Hanover and Brunswick Counties. It is what I always refered to as the gatekeeper of the city. Wilmington is one of the port cities within North Carolina, and for the large vessels to get into the downtown area (which they don't do as often as they used to), the drawbridge has to raise so the ships can pass beneath. As a child, I was always amazed to be sitting on the ramp leading to the bridge watching the bridge raise and lower back into position, as ships passed beneath. A few years ago, we were fortunate enough to be in Wilmington when the U.S. Coast Guard's infamous Tall Ship "Eagle" sailed into downtown. The "Eagle" is so tall that the drawbridge had to raise to it's maximum height, and even at that height, the "Eagle" just barely squeaked below.
Can you only imagine what stories the historic drawbridge can tell?

Most of the time when you cross over a bridge, you are typically going to be crossing over water or sometimes over other roadways, train tracks, etc. But if you take a glance below you, you can often see things that are relatively calm, but occasionally, you may see turmoil below you (ie: troubled waters), but we are soaring above the trouble on the bridge that is standing tall and firm. Similarly, we could look at our lives as a bridge -- we are going to pass through "troubled waters", but if we are able to stand strong and firm, we can continue to press forward and move past those tumultous times. At times, our bridge might get shaky, but if you have your faith locked firm, you will get through those rough times and "sail on, silver bird, sail on by". So keep your head up, and travel on -- don't let people or situations bring you down, and in the end, you will have some great stories to tell!