I see life in pictures and believe a soundtrack should be playing in the background throughout most of the day. My husband once said if I ever wrote a book it would be mainly pictures with quotes and verses. I’m a big fan of addicted to canva, picmonkey, and the Fontlab app for photo editing and overlaying text onto pictures I’ve taken –and did I tell you … I. Love. To. Take. Pictures ! Little facts I’m sure you were dying to know but the bottom line is this — often pictures evoke a thought for me beginning a trail of other thoughts leading to — well …leading to me writing about it here — (or posting on Instagram, of course 🙂 ).
For instance, I have a thing for steps, paths and bridges. Perhaps this has some deep psychological meaning (for those of you who analyze stuff like that) but I’d like to think it has to do with forward movement … symbolic of life’s journey … decisions …taking a course of action …new season …stepping out in faith. As I looked through photos this week, my thoughts have taken me down a trail …leading me to a bridge — “a structure or something that makes a connection”…”a connecting, transitional, or intermediate route or phase between two adjacent elements, activities, conditions, or the like…”
And the truth is … we all have bridges to cross. We all need to make connections …make transitions from one “element” or “activity” of life to another one. We will all have many moments in our life that we find ourselves standing on one side of the riverbank — looking across the rising waters of our reality — trying to decide if we are going to cross the bridge to the other side…to another reality in life–or stay right where we are.
As we stand on the edge of our reality contemplating whether to cross …may we choose life and take the steps across …
from holding on to our hurts and deep wounds …to forgiveness and wholeness
from procrastination …to making that call
from accumulating and hoarding …to giving
from holding onto that grudge …to reconciling with that family member or friend
from keeping quiet and choosing comfort …to entering the messy stories and speaking up for those under-privileged, left out or marginalized
from complaining …to being thankful
from judgment and assumptions …to love and understanding
from prejudice …to we’re all made in the image of God equality thinking
from bitterness …to love and acceptance
from worry and fear …to faith and trusting in God
from control …to letting go
from pride and superiority …to humility and serving others
from filling our life with activities that really don’t satisfy …to being about what really matters for eternity
from complacency …to action
from _____________ … to _____________
And wasn’t it Martin Luther King, Jr. who dared to cross that bridge many years ago from injustice to “justice for all” ! Didn’t he take those steps in spite of fear of what others thought so that the thoughts of others could finally be heard ! Know this — your “bridge crossing” is never just about you getting to your destination. It will almost always impact many others and create a much-needed path of freedom. Bridges are designed for destinations of change. If you’re not willing to change, it’s really only a pier or scenic lookout. You’ll look over the abyss –longing for freedom– but never arrive.
Where are you right now? On the side looking across? Unsure? Wavering? Fearful? Testing the waters first? Looking for a friend to cross with you?
…or maybe you’re — Longing? One foot on? Courageously crossing? Crawling? or — Safely to the other side?
And if you’re afraid, remember these words from Nelson Mandela… “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear. “
You can do it and there’s no shame in crawling !
And of all bridges available, PLEASE DON’T MISS THIS ONE ! Take the Bridge to LIFE …Eternal Life … through Jesus Christ Who promises this —
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 NIV)
Because …
“there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus” (I Timothy 2:5 (NIV))
And if you want true PEACE and LIFE and FORGIVENESS and a WAY HOME to the Heavenly Father, there is no other way (or Bridge) except through Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit will open the path and the Father will be waiting to welcome you home.
Now is the time …take the next step …cross the bridge!
Song for reflection: ‘The Great Divide” by Point of Grace
This is excellent Joy. Get a copy of the book From Draft To Digital. It is helping me immensely finish my long overdue book. I love Canva too.
Thanks Becky! We really need to get together soon. You are so encouraging to me! I’ll check that out … Loves!
This is perfect! I COMPLETELY get your love for pictures!!!!
And…. sometimes we may not exactly know what is on the other side of the bridge but we TRUST that God does!!!
Keep em coming my friend <3
Thanks joy3 😉 … Thanks for literally walking with me on the journey — I’m sure you recognize pic # 1 & 3 … and yes …the other side is often a mystery, for sure ! Trust … keep walking …
oops …and the last pic you might recognize as well joy3 !
Love this Joy! New year new bridges – new adventures, new opportunities to make a difference, to be the clearing and opening for someone else’s breakthrough. I felt a new level of courage rise up in me when I read this! Love you!!
Kim …I love you friend. You’re one of my heroes. I have to tell you …today the Holy Spirit and I had some serious moments over this.
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