Recent thoughts of the trials of our relations in their callings to minister
to Native folks has reminded me of a wisdom the Spirit shared with me as I
prayed about my own life and calling. He told me Creator wants to use me as a
bridge between the majority church and Natives. (Which seems quite the purpose
for a mixed blood). He said to be such a bridge, I would have to make Mercy a
great focus of my life (which is not an easy thing for me, personally). He said
that many bridges are needed to cross the divide between Native and non-Native,
but that Christ is the foundation of every such bridge so much of the hardest
work in building the bridge has already been done.
This was the “good part”. Then came the “count the cost clause”.
Bridges connect two sides that are separated by a gap, a chasm, a fast
flowing or too deep or too wide body of water: anything that keeps people apart.
Bridges must be firmly anchored to each side, but even more, they must be
anchored deep into bedrock, both to support the weight of the crossing but also
to stand in the midst of the gap. A bridge’s roots are often right in the
middle of the thing everyone else is wanting to cross over. But bridges are not
really a part of either side. They are connected, but still separate from each
shore. All bridges are really used for is for the folks from one side to cross
to the other side. Every once in a while someone may pause on the bridge, maybe
even fish from it, but not much thought is given to the it except as a tool used
to get from one side to the other. So bridges get walked on an awful lot by
people who don’t give it much thought. Plus the bridge can’t really control
or even foresee the purposes of those using it ! to cross: the same bridge that
one group uses to visit another can also be used by an attacker. When the latter
happens, people may decide they want to destroy the bridge to prevent any more
attacks, even though it was not the bridges doing. That and enemies of either or
both sides will seek to destroy the bridge to keep it from being used for good
purposes.
No one seems to appreciate a bridge until something happens and it can’t
be used anymore. Bridges share the same problem of having things start to break;
weaknesses develop, in areas that are hidden from those crossing them. Only a
skilled engineer knows how to inspect a bridge to catch the problems early. By
the time those crossing may notice a crack, it is usually time for a bridge to
be closed for repairs. When that happens, many of those who used the bridge to
cross invariably find a reason to complain about the fact that the bridge needs
repairs. They don’t realize it is their own act of crossing the bridge that
causes the stress that leads to the need for repair and restoration. Hopefully,
regular maintenance has been done on the bridge by caring stewards so that the
problems are caught early or even prevented from developing. A wise engineer may
close a bridge for regular preventive maintenance, or at least restrict the flow
of traffic until the bridge is returned to 100% capacity.
And there are always those who feel the bridge isn’t even necessary
because they neither want to cross to the other side nor have anyone from the
other side come to them. They prefer the gap remain uncrossable, or that folks
should just go around in order to reach their own side.
It’s not easy being a bridge. Caught in the middle of an obstacle
everyone else wants to avoid, bearing the weight of others who usually take the
bridge for granted. Not truly being a part of either shore, but something
separate, yet absolutely vital. Sometimes, people can go around the gap, but
that takes much time and effort. Some gaps are too deep and wide and long to go
around, and a bridge must be used to cross.
Being a bridge for Christ isn’t easy. Just getting to the point of
being usable takes much work in the form of testing and refining. But it is a
vital part of fulfilling the command to “prepare the way of the Lord”.