[Andy Young]

When I first heard this, I almost wept, and it touched my heart. I hope and pray it will do the same for you. Its quite long, but trust me, its worth the wait.

THE BRIDGE
This is a true story about a man who lived in New Zealand. Please try and imagine how he must feel during the events of this story.
There was once a bridge spanning a large river. During most of the day the bridge sat with it’s length running up and down the river parallel with the banks, allowing ships to pass freely each side. But at certain times each day a train would come along and the bridge would be turned sideways across the river to allow the train to cross.
A switchman sat in a shack on one side of the river and operated the controls to turn the bridge and lock it into place as the train crossed. One evening as the switchman was waiting for the last train of the day, he looked into the distance and caught site of the train lights. He stepped to the controls and waited until the train was within the prescribed distance and turned the bridge into position, but to his horror he found the locking control did not work. If the bridge was not secure it would wobble back and forth when the train came onto it, causing the train to jump the track and crash into the river. And this was a passenger train with many people on board!
He left the bridge turned across the river, and hurried across to a lever used to lock the bridge manually. He must hold it firmly as the train crossed. He could hear the rumble of the train and leaned backwards to apply his weight to the lever and lock the mechanism. Many lives depended upon his strength!
Then coming across the bridge from the direction of the control shack, he heard a sound that made his blood run cold. “Daddy, where are you?” His four-year-old son was crossing the bridge to look for him. His first impulse was to call out “Run! Run!” But the train was too close and those tiny legs would never make it across in time. The man almost left his post to run and snatch up his son and carry him to safety. But he realised that he could not get back to the locking lever.
Either the people on the train or his son must die. He took only a moment to decide.
The train sped safely and swiftly on it’s way. No one was even aware of the tiny broken body thrown mercilessly into the river by the rushing train. Nor were they aware of the pitiful figure of the sobbing man, clinging to his lever long after the train had passed. They did not see him walking home more slowly than he had ever walked, to tell his wife how their son brutally died.
If you can comprehend the emotions of this man’s heart, you can begin to understand the anguish of God; who sacrificed his son to bridge the gap between us and eternal life.



Just readin through that again, really, I don't know. It moves me. God is so gracious - so loving. I can't comprehend Gods love, and I never will. But I know that it is true, and he does love us - why? I don't know. But I assure you - he does!
† God Bless †
Andy

[ShyStrings]

And to think that God had chosen freely to put his son there on the tracks. He had thought it out and picked that outcome...

-shy-

[Andy Young]

i know - it just becomes more and more amazing - and to think each of those passengers was a sinner, and each of those sins, were the fuel for the train! I don't understand God - but I love him!
† God Bless †
Andy

[stillgrowin']

That is such a powerful story. The youth pastor of a church I used to go to told us a very similar story. It almost tears your heart to think about the passengers carelessly chatting in the train, while this man sacrificed his son to save them. I was listenning to "Sea of Forgetfulness" by Seven Day Jesus just now. I'm gonna post the words here. This story makes the words much more powerful.

verse1
Close my eyes, not to remember every crime or time I fell
Into the open arms of temptation, driving the nails.
How does your love remain so faithful to one unfaithful

chorus
Where do you hide the tears
You should be crying when I've fallen again
And where do you hide the tears
that fell in the day I turned you away
You throw them away, the sea of forgetfulness

verse2
Draw my heart out of the darkness, where I was hiding from your face.
Into the open arms of forgiveness, offering grace.
Into the place where there's no memory, left to press against me.

bridge
Stumble or fall, you cover them all
Nothing to hold, you let them go
Love takes me in and covers with in
To welcome the child you know I am