I recently had an experience that caused me to reflect on my very first week of professional ministry. That week in August of 1998 I moved from the suburbs of Chicago to the high desert of Yakima, WA. I arrived in Yakima and just 2 days later I piled into a van with 5 youth and 2 other adults for my first mission trip. We traveled to Camp Magruder on the Oregon coast and spent the week doing projects around the camp. Our big project was to build a bridge. It actually started out taking apart a bridge as the group that had been there the previous week had put the boards in crooked. So we took the boards out and then put them in correctly. It was a difficult but fun job and our group bonded over the experience. Unfortunately we were only able to get about ½ way across the water before it was time to head back home. We left with the hope that someone else would come and finish the job so folks could get to the other side.
In the 15 years since our mission trip I had only been back to Camp Magruder once and that day it was so rainy and muddy I could only see the bridge. I was happy to note that it deed indeed stretch to the other shore. This past weekend I finally had a chance to walk on the bridge and see where it led for the first time. The bridge looks a bit weathered and worn but I am proud to report it is solid. It felt great to stand in the middle and enjoy the view. As I looked out over the lake I thought about those youth from years ago, Tyler, Justin, Kevin, Megan, and Robert and the bridges of faith that we built together. I gave thanks for the others that have come along side of them since those days and helped them complete the next phase of their own bridges.
As a Deacon in the Methodist church I am called to be a bridge builder. Sometimes literally as it turns out. Bridges are a major theme in my life I’m realizing. In our new neighborhood here in Sellwood traffic can be slow because a new bridge is being built. I have to admit I have complained a bit after getting backed up by all the work going on. Maybe this bridge under construction can serve as a reminder for the new church start work that we are doing here in this place. We get the opportunity to walk along side folks and help them build new bridges or perhaps complete something that was begun long ago. I can’t wait to see where the new bridges we help build will lead us and others.
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