The Bridge Keeper

[Heavyduty053]

               I ran this story some years ago but somehow this keeps creeping into my mind that someone out there may be dealing with something similar and needs to see this...so here it is again:

 

          Years ago there was a bridge which spanned a large river. It wasn't for automobiles and such.... it was for trains. During most of the day the bridge sat with its length running up and down the river, parallel with the banks, allowing ships full of goods to pass freely through it on both sides. Its main mount was deeply made and sturdy and allowed the heavy bridge to swing at the controls of a switchman. Certain times a day and late into the evenings a scheduled train would have to use the bridge to cross to continue to its destination and the bridge had to be swung around to complete its tracks.

               A man called a switchman sat in a small shack built right in the middle and on the side of the bridge with the controls at his hands to move and lock the bridge into position for each train to cross then he would swing it back for river traffic. One evening as the switchman was waiting for the last train of the day, he looked off into the distance through the dimming evening light and caught sight of the train lights rounding the bend before the river. He stepped to the controls and waited until the train was within the required distance then he pulled hard on the handles to move the bride into place. The bridge moved into position as the cables and the gears moved but didn't couple and was not secured, somehow it wasn't locking on the other side. If the bridge was not securely locked it would wobble back and forth at the ends when the weight of the train came onto it causing it to jump track and crash into the river.

          What's worse this one was the 7:15 full of passengers, probably 50 to 100 people riding peacefully some sleeping others just talking enjoying conversation, not aware of the danger ahead that could end their lives in an instant. The switchman had time he thought, so he could run across and lock it manually and hold the tracks in place by pulling hard on the lock handle. The train was rumbling closer as he took hold of the lever and leaned backward with all his might to apply all the strength he had to lock the tracks. Many lives depended on his ability to hold this closed and he was going to see it done.

               His heart fell to his knees when he looked back across the bridge in the direction of his control shack and heard the sound that made his blood run cold. "Daddy where are you?" His four year old son was crossing the bridge looking for his daddy to tell him the evening meal was ready. His first impulse was to cry out to his child, Run son Run! but the train was too close to loud, and his tiny legs would never make it across the bridge or back in time. The switchman almost let go of the lever to run and grab his son and jump into the river to save him from instant death, but he couldn't do both. The chilling thought was that these passengers or his son must die in just a moment and worse he will have to watch it unfold. He had only a moment to make his decision. The train sped safely and swiftly across the bridge and no one abroad was even aware of the little broken parted body thrown mercilessly into the river by the heavy machine.

               Nor were they aware of the pitiful figure of the father crying with his head in his hands dropping to his knee reliving the scene of what just happened.  They didn't see him looking down at what was once his smiling son then walking to his house about a block away more slowly than he ever had to tell his wife that her only son had to be brutally killed so that others may live.

 

               If you can even attempt to imagine the emotions which went through this man's heart, while he watched this tragedy unfold then you should be able to understand the feelings of our Father in Heaven when he had to make a choice to sacrifice his only Son to bridge the gap between us and eternal life. Is it any wonder he caused the earth to tremble and the skies to darken when his Son hang on that cross and drew his last breath.........How do you think God feels as all of us speed through life with some not even giving a thought to what he did for us as he allowed his Son Jesus Christ to die a brutal death for our sins......Jesus's father could have sent 10,000 angels to free him on that cross but all the generations of his children to be would not have forgiveness nor life eternal.

               This story parallels the story of the switchman sacrificing his son so that the people on that train wouldn't have met instant death. One was given so many could live....Thank You Father for the gift of life that was made possible by Jesus Christ on the cross. Please forgive us when we have been less than what you created us for and have mercy on our souls, in the sweet name of Jesus.......Amen

 

I sincerely hope that this is meant for that certain someone out there that it reaches them and it weighs heavy on their hearts until they kneel down and talk to Jesus.

 

 

              

 

[EagleEye]

One of my favorite oldies HD...thanks !!!

 

[SgtFuryUSCZ]

***///

Thank you, HEAVYD.... 

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[Shedagal]

I remember when my husband and I first read this story years ago.  We thought of when God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac.  In the end God intervened and provided a sacrifice.  We determined that God will always make a way in every circumstance. 

[pattyangel]

Another great story that I will be sharing.  Thanks Heavy

[moose 57]

That is good! 

[nannab]

Thank you Heavyduty your stories never get old.