We drive over bridges all the time. They are such a part of our daily driving that I don’t think we even think about them very much. To us many of the bridges we cross over are just part of the road. Have you ever considered what it takes to build that bridge that you drive over?
Let’s take a look at some of the steps in building a bridge. There has to be a feasibility study and site inspection. This means it has to be determined can you even build a bridge here and if so what would be its primary function. There needs to be a soil investigation to analyze the soil and rock conditions to determine the ideal type of foundation. You have to get permits and approvals for the work that you will be doing. The site needs to be prepared, meaning that the site is cleared and leveled. This can include excavating earth and preparing access routes for machinery and materials. Then the forming of the foundation begins. This is the base of the bridge and is built below ground or water level. Foundations can include driven piles (long columns of concrete or steel) or drilled shafts, depending on the ground conditions. Abutments and piers are added. Abutments are the parts of the bridge that support the superstructure at its ends, transferring the load to the foundation. Piers are intermediate supports used for longer bridges. There’s beam and girder placement, these are the main horizontal supports, are installed on top of the abutments and piers. Then the deck construction happens. The deck is the roadway surface on which traffic travels. After the main structure is complete, final elements are added, such as railings, lighting, and drainage systems. A final inspection is conducted to ensure the bridge meets all safety and quality standards. The structure may also undergo stress testing before it is opened to the public. Finally the project is completed and the bridge is opened for public use.
Obviously there are many other details to building a bridge that I did not include here, but you get the overall idea. Building a bridge takes a lot of work. This also applies to our lives in building bridges or reconciling relationships. We must do an honest assessment of the situation and see if a bridge can be built. This will include analyzing the hearts (the soil and rock in) of both parties involved. We have to get “permits” that is if the other party is willing to have this bridge built. Sometimes permission is not granted. The other party has no interest in a bridge being built here. If you do get to move forward the sight has to be prepared. The way has to be cleared to work on this. This is where repentance and forgiveness come in. We have to get our pride and the offense out of the way if we want this to be successful. Then you begin work on the foundation. This is restoring trust, which happens beneath the surface. Yes, there is a lot of work above the surface for this to happen, but it is a matter of the heart. So we have to allow ourselves to trust each other. There is a lot of construction that goes on here. These are constructive conversations that help hold the trust and overall relationship in place. Railings, lighting, and drainage systems are important for any bridge. They are also important for relationships. We must have boundaries (railings), we must not hide things (keep them in the light) and we must not let things build up and drown the relationship (drainage). Understand that there will still come challenges to a relationship that will stress test it. If the structure is built correctly though it will withstand the test. Understand that bridge building is not always easy. It’s going to be messy at times, but it is worth it once the bridge is built.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 KJV 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.