Thought for the Month - July 2012

"Bridge over troubled water" By Barry Adair

When you're weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes, I'll dry them all (all)
I'm on your side, oh, when times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

I never really took much notice of song lyrics over the years. Now that I'm older (and wiser?!), I tend to listen to the actual words in a song or in a hymn a bit more often. The above lyrics, of course, are from "Bridge over troubled water", by Simon and Garfunkel. Paul Simon wrote these words in 1969 initially as a modest Gospel hymn. It's a song very much about friendship and about being there for someone when no one else will help. The single has sold 6 million copies worldwide and the album of the same name has sold over 25 million copies worldwide. I'll come back to my own personal interpretation of these lyrics later.

I also thought of a physical 'bridge over troubled water', my mind dwelling on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco (see photo above). This is perhaps the most beautiful bridge in the world and the city of San Francisco recently held a 75th "birthday" celebration for its iconic landmark.

Before the bridge was built, the "Golden Gate Ferry Company" ran ferries across this part of San Francisco Bay. Of course, many had wanted to build a bridge to connect San Francisco over to Marin County. However, many experts said that a bridge couldn't be built across the 2km wide strait as it had strong swirling tides and currents, water depth of over 100m and frequent strong winds and blanketing fogs. Troubled waters indeed!

With the birthday celebrations now over, I came across another set of more disturbing bridge facts which were not mentioned at those birthday celebrations. Below the bridge, those same 'troubled waters' have witnessed around 1,600 confirmed suicides in the bridge's 75 year lifespan. Many more deaths are unconfirmed and as such have not been included in the 1,600 figure! Unlike at other famous monuments, there are no high fences around the bridge meaning that it is very easy to jump to your death there. In fact, every 2 and a half days someone either jumps from the bridge or tries to jump from it!

I just cannot contemplate climbing on to the bridge railings and then jumping off the bridge with a drop of 75m to the water below. The very sad thing is that many of these 1,600+ jumpers perhaps only needed someone to reach out and help them at a time of unbearable mental anguish.

As someone once said… "Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem".

In other words, if the temporary problem can be addressed, there would be no need for the permanent solution (suicide)! Thinking again of those poor souls who jump to their deaths, if someone had been there and lovingly offered to go through the issues they was experiencing, perhaps the ending could have been much different. People in anguish often need a friend much more than a psychologist!

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (2 Cor 1: 3-4)

Whenever I hear those lyrics from "Bridge over troubled water" I think about our sinful lives as being like troubled waters and about the Lord Jesus Christ as our Bridge which can span over those troubled waters. I remember the time before I came to Him. I remember the times when even friends and family just couldn't help. I too remember feeling small and vulnerable. Jesus was there when I needed someone the most. Not only was He there, He had laid down his own life to pay for my sins and to allow reconciliation to God Himself!

Or as someone else put it…

Jesus built us a bridge with 2 boards and 3 nails!

Only Jesus can bridge the huge gap which exists between God and His fallen creation. Jesus our Bridge (click here)

Jesus wants to be our ultimate Friend as well as our Saviour. Whenever we come to Him with a repentant heart, we find that He is a true friend, a friend who will stick closer than a brother. Times may still be hard but we will have Someone who will never leave us nor forsake us.

So if you're weary, feeling small, and tears are in your eyes, Jesus will dry them all.

He is on your side, especially when times get rough and even friends cannot be found.

And just like that bridge over troubled water, He laid His life down for you!

…God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom 5:8)

The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (2 Tim 4:18)

Until next month then (DV)…

(All Bible quotations are from the NASB)

Are you SURE that you have your place booked in Heaven? Read this if you're not!