Monday: Crossing Bridges

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

James 5:1

Having researched the idiom, or proverb, “We’ll cross that bridge when we get there” or “Don’t cross that bridge till you come to it”, I found the phrase has been used since the 1800’s.

Most research agreeds the phrase means “not to deal with something before it happens”. I found an interesting note that crossing a bridge, in times of old, was consider risky business. I laughed! Personally, I hate crossing bridges especially if they are tall and go over a body of water.

This idiom appeared in writing by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1851 in a piece he wrote titled, “The Golden Legend”. Eventually, it was made into a cantata showing the struggle between God, Satan and man. The poem is lengthy and I had the sense of not wanting to cross its bridge.

Yet, every day we are in need of crossing some sort of bridge: a challenge on the job, tedious training of a child, caring for a loved one, perfecting a talent, ministering to a friend or just the battle with sin. Many things in our lives are battles to be crossed over just as if they were bridges.

Prayerfully, consider how to cross your bridges this week.