Release Date: May 6th, 2026Opening Closed Bridges!
- by Juanita Laverty
Our family lives on a country sideroad, just down from a river with a bridge. Recently that old bridge was not safe to travel across, and the township had to close it for repair which took a couple of years to complete. At first, the bridge closure felt like an asset, as it detoured our traffic and made the road feel more safe, quiet and private. The only downside was that we had to exit our road the other direction to the south, when really, crossing the bridge, would be the most direct commute to work and school. It felt like a bit of a hassle to drive all the way around, south to west, and then back to our northbound trajectory.
We missed our neighbours and felt cut off from them.
After a few months, another, greater impact was felt. We missed our neighbours and felt cut off from them. We missed the neighbours from the two farms at the end of the road, who have a friendship and walk the road together and welcome others to join. We missed checking on the neighbours who were making a lot of excellent improvements to the heritage home which used to be the countryside post office. We missed the very smiley neighbour who used to deliver the newspaper, and the neighbour who gathered up their windfall of apples and placed them in bags on a table by the road for a constant supply of shared sweet goodness, free for the taking. We even missed the farm dog, Reba, who would run to greet you, and then lay down in the ditch if a car was approaching as if she was spying on it! We longed to see our neighbours on the other side of the bridge, and to be with them; to converse with them and have a glimpse again into their lives and even have their “spiritual perceptiveness” revealed in our conversing... or to simply give and receive a brief but warm greeting, again.
In our lives of faith, we have a need to meet others on the journey.
In the writings of Paul there are many references to his longing to see the other, particularly face to face. Paul longed to be with them. He was describing his desire for personal interaction with the various congregations he so cared about; he had interest in them, and in their faith formation and growth. Paul’s writing comes to mind as I reflect on how we were losing touch with our neighbours up the road with the bridge being closed.
In Romans 1:11, Paul gives this emphasis: “For I long to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift so that you may be strengthened-or rather, so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine”. Paul is aware that he is encouraged in seeing God at work in the lives of others! Furthermore, Paul’s desire is not just for social, for he wants to share a spiritual blessing with them and share in mutual edification.
Let’s be sure to specifically encourage the good we see!
In our lives of faith, we have a need to meet others on the journey. Companions on the road bolster us, and communal inspiration strengthens us, and although I don’t know our neighbours perfectly, there is something I can call to mind that I have seen in each one of them that I would suggest is evidence of God working in their lives! Do I encourage our neighbours, and am I encouraging in my other circles of influence and connection?
In 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Paul conveys the important message that we should encourage one another and build each other up, “just as indeed you are doing.” Is it our hope that we can catch others doing something life giving and we can affirm the good we already see? It seems we live in a society that is so bent on the duty of arguing a point, and maintaining individual rights, but these priorities can distance people from each other. We may forget to describe the goodness we see in our neighbour as we focus in on ourselves, and we may even miss an opportunity for bridge openings that are possible if we affirm another person, and we seek their perspective as valid, meaningful and sacred! Why are we glad to see the bags of apples on the plastic table at the end of the neighbours’ driveway? Let’s be sure to specifically encourage the good we see!
We also must remember that loving our neighbour is not a mindset of choice; it is not that we choose to love only when we sense a like-mindedness. We are called to love friends, strangers, and enemies, so the call to love is very broad. Anyone can love the lovely neighbours, but we show the face of Christ as we love the needy and love even those with an unkind demeanor.
Fostering these connections feels like bridge opening to me!
I am excited about a new initiative in our church, from our Nurture committee (which focuses on worship and faith formation); we’ve called it “Nurture Nudges.” Sometimes in our living we find ourselves tending to isolate, focusing on individualistic thinking, and feeling the strain of information overload. We want people to consider seeking connection and grounding in these busy times - and we will nudge them to do so! We have already invited church members this month to consider walking in nature with a friend to observe the ephemeral flowers. Maybe in the future months we will nudge people to host a games night, plan a campfire evening with friends, and invite some friends for a meal. These will be regular nudgings towards simple invitations, towards an openness shared with others; no strings attached, no requirements, no timelines, only a desire to kindle a spark, to connect and relate. Fostering these connections feels like bridge opening to me!
What are your experiences of opening bridges in your life? Are you yearning to take some effective steps towards opening bridges and drawing people together? May Christ’s love help bridge distances far more than we can ever imagine!
- Juanita Laverty is pastor at Hanover Mennonite Church