The Bridge

This is the turntable bridge here in Clarksville over the large Cumberland river

Every missionary remembers his "Trainer." A trainer is a new missionary's very first companion. The trainer shows the new missionary the "ropes" of how to be a good missionary. Mine was named Elder Tim Simmons. Boy, did we have our share of experiences together! Getting bottles thrown at us, getting yelled at, seeing people accept committments, seeing people deny the blessings of the gospel, watching fourth of July fireworks on our balcony, having air freshener fights during comp study, serving together, teaching together, laughing together, crying together, testifying together and many more good times we had together. I love Elder Simmons. He taught me the things that I needed to know to be a good missionary. I was his companion for 3 months and then Elder Simmons went home to St. George, Utah to be with his family. He is now engaged. Before he left, he let me write down this poem that he has. This poem has powerful effects on whoever reads it. I do warn all of you, you will feel the Spirit of the Lord as you read the poem below.

The Bridge
"There once was a big turntable bridge which spanned a large river. During most of the day the bridge sat with its length running up and down the river parallel with the banks allowing ships to pass through freely on both sides of the bridge But at certain times each day a train would come along, and the bridge would be turned sideways across the river allowing the train to cross with passage wide enough for a train to cross.

A small watchman sat in a tiny shack on one side of the river where he 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 to come, be looked off into the distance through the dimming twilight, and caught sight of the train's light. He stooped to the controls and waited until the train was within a prescribed distance when he was to turn the bridge. He turned the bridge into position for the train to cross, and moved the lever to lock the bridge into position, but to his horror, he found the locking control didn't work. If the bridge was not locked securely into position, it would wobble back and forth and when the train came onto it, it would cause the train to jump the track and go crashing into the river. This would be a passenger train with many people onboard.

He left the bridge, turned across the river, and hurried across the bridge to the other side of the river where there was a lever which he could use to operate the lock manually. He would have to hold the lever back firmly as the train passed. He could hear the rumble of the train now, and he took hold of the lever and leaned backward to apply his weight to it, locking the bridge. He kept applying the pressure to keep the mechanism locked. Many lives depended on this man's strength
Then, coming across the bridge from the direction of his 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 cry out to the child: 'Run!' but the train was too close; the tiny legs would never make it across the bridge in time. The man almost left the lever to run and snatch up his son and carry him to safety, but realized he could not get back to the lever in time, Either the people on the train or his little son must die.

He took just a moment to make his decision.....The train sped swiftly and safely on its way, and no one aboard was aware of the tiny, broken body thrown mercilessly into the river by the on-rushing train. Nor were they aware of the pitiful figure of a sobbing man, still clinging tightly to the locking lever long after the train had passed. They didn't see him walking home more slowly than he ever walked to tell his wife how he had sacrificed their son.

Now if you can comprehend the emotions which went through this man's heart, you can begin to understand the feelings of your Heavenly Father when he sacrificed His Son to bridge the gap between us and eternal life. Can there be any wonder that He caused the earth to tremble and the skies to darken when His Son died? And how does He feel when we speed along life without giving a thought to what was done for us through Jesus? When was the last time you thanked Him for the sacrifice of His Son?"

I know that Heavenly Father loves all of us very much. It saddens me when we talk to people who do not have a belief in God. I try to see them as God sees them. I know that He loves them, because I know that He loves me. I try to see them as He would, and we try talking to them as He would have us do. I am very grateful for the knowledge we have of our Heavenly Father. He is there. I know He is there because I feel the Holy Ghost when I speak about Him, and especially when I talk to Him. I love Him and I love His Son. His Only Begotten Son. His perfect Son. His only Son that made it possible for us to return to live with Him again. May we all remember more often the Ultimate Sacrifice that has been paid for us, and as we do this, I know that our relationship with our loving Heavenly Father will grow.
I Stand All Amazed...at the love of our God.