Safely Across the Bridge

By Adrienne Feldmann

A young family went on a summer getaway to Chicago. They spent a long day walking up and down the Magnificent Mile—the city’s premier shopping district—and honestly, the kids did not find it quite as magnificent as their parents did! As the marathon shopping session was ending, Mom and Dad realized their children were worn out, so they did what most parents of young kids do—they made a beeline for the best playground they could find.

Maggie Daley Park in Chicago is a park to end all parks. Slides are everywhere. There are incredible things to climb. Two three-story tall towers are linked by a suspension bridge that children can walk across. A child might envision Heaven to look something like this.

As Mom and Dad settled on a bench, they watched their kids having the time of their lives. But then Mom noticed something was wrong. She heard crying. She turned toward the sound and saw a very little girl, 10 feet above her head, smack-dab in the middle of a wobbly bridge. The precious little girl—probably 2 years old and wearing bright pink tennis shoes and little bobble ponytail holders—was terrified. Her mom was on the ground trying to explain how to cross to the other side, but it was too much for this sweet little girl.

Have you ever been in a situation like this? Stuck? Paralyzed? Trapped in a place you cannot possibly escape on your own?

Happily for the terrified little bridge walker, a boy of probably 11 or 12 came out of nowhere, it seemed, took her by the hand, and led her safely across the span. Can you imagine the frightened girl’s relief when someone took her by the hand and led her to safety?

None of us gets a free pass from the paralyzing effects of sin. We can’t pretend we live in a world exempt from darkness and struggle. Left to our own devices, we’d be like that little girl . . . unable to make it across. But Jesus, in his incredible mercy, offers us his hand and leads us safely back to him.

As we participate in Communion, let’s remember Jesus’ sacrifice that makes it all possible. Psalm 130 puts it this way: “Hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is unfailing love. His redemption overflows. He himself will redeem Israel from every kind of sin” (vv. 7, 8, New Living Translation).

As we take the bread, remember his body on the cross; and as we drink the juice, let’s remember his blood poured out for us.

Adrienne Feldmann serves as the online campus pastor at Northeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky.