Eric Reece
I served in a community where families lived on the other side of a large creek. There was an old bridge built by the families that crossed the creek. The bridge had seen better days and needed to be replaced.
They shared with me the story of how the new bridge was built. They contacted the DOT about help and there was one problem: the families were one house shy of having the numbers of houses needed for the DOT to build the bridge.
What were they to do?
One family had their father living with them and he decided he would build a house so they would be eligible for the bridge. The larger community came together and soon, Poppy had his house and the people had a new, safe bridge.
When Poppy passed away, his pastor read a poem at his service entitled “The Bridge Builder” by Will Allen Dromgoole (1898). The family was proud of Poppy’s accomplishment and a copy of the poem hung on the wall in the house.
“The Bridge Builder” tells the story of an elderly man who crossed a stream and when he reached the other side realized a bridge needed to be built.
“But he turned when safe on the other side and built a bridge to span the tide.”
When a man saw what he had done he said, “You are wasting your strength with building here ... You never again will pass this way; why build this bridge at evening tide?”
The old man replied, “There followed after me to-day a youth whose feet must pass this way. This chasm that has been as naught to me to that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be; he, too, must cross in the twilight dim; good friend, I am building this bridge for him!”
I am aware of the many bridges others have built that I have crossed. Without the vision and sacrifices of others I would have been left on the other side or carried downstream. The poem is a reminder of what others have done for us and paying it forward we both honor them and help others.
In response to Simon Peter’s question about forgiveness, Jesus told a parable about an unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:21-35).
This servant owed a great debt and when it was called in by the master, he could not pay. The master said his family and all he had would be sold to settle the debt. Knowing he was ruined, he fell on his face and begged for patience and he would make the debt good. The master – moved by the man’s plea – forgave the debt.
The forgiven servant went and found a servant who owed him a small sum and demanded the money. He could not pay and was cast into prison. When the master heard of this, he called in the servant and told him he showed mercy to him and in return, he was paid back by the servant not paying it forward.
The debt was reinstated and the servant punished.
What bridges have you crossed? What bridges need to be built? It is not easy.
Yet, our community can work together to build bridges for today and future generations.
Eric Reece is the faith columnist for The Graham Star. He is pastor of Robbinsville United Methodist Church and can be reached via email, ereece@wnccumc.net.