♪ Bridge Over Troubled Water ♪

Blissfield, Michigan, has bridges. Not the stately covered ones of Madison County,

Iowa, perhaps, but the famed Three Bridges. One, the pedestrian bridge, crosses the River Raisin on its' way winding through the sleepy little farm hamlet on land that looks much like the Texas prairie. Big sky country, broad horizons, and a barn every now and then. (The river, named by the French for the wild grapes that grew along its banks, was the site of a major battle in The War of 1812, so don't think it's just a silly name. I did, then I looked it up to find out WHY it had a silly name. HA) My dad would have crossed this bridge a few times, as a child and a teen,dreaming of leaving the sleepy hamlet to Do Great Things. 

But I digress. Sort of. 

The pastor at the Easter service I celebrated this morning took a different tack from the usual Easter story. So often Protestant preachers go sneaky Catholic/Jewish guilt-laying, on the twice-a-year Easter-ers, heavy into the anguish of the Crucifixion to backlight the Resurrection in order to grab at the hearts and souls of the congregation. Instead of reminding us we NEED TO BE BROKEN, this man spoke of a builder. 

This man spoke of Jesus the carpenter. The carpenter who had to size up a piece of wood and create something out of it. The carpenter who, when faced with crucifixion, took the wood and the nails and the ropes that bound Him to it and built a bridge to the Father. 

A bridge that didn't exist before then, because the Father stayed hidden in the Holy of Holies -- until Jesus built that bridge with His death and tore the Temple curtain from top to bottom. Not a curtain like we have in our homes, either, but a 30-foot high, 3-foot thick hand-loomed curtain that veiled the Ark of the Covenant. No human, no team of humans, could have rent that weaving in half, let alone from the top down. He spoke of walking across that bridge, and picturing the Cross beam, on Jesus' shoulders, under our feet. 

Easter. Bridge Building 101.

I've been trying to rebuild bridges. I didn't burn them, as much as I threw flaming spears, put up barriers and planted bramble. Some may never be re-established. Some probably should not be.  Some are coming along. Fortunately for me, the girl who passed Woodshop with a B-, I don't have to keep slaving away at the renovation and repair with my meager skills. 

Jesus, the carpenter from Nazareth, can clear the brambles and the barriers and brush away the soot from the flaming spears, most of which grew cold more than a year ago. He already has -- and strengthened the supports to others that have long been kindred spirits on the Journey.  

On my Facebook page, a reference which might seem silly,  I can count more than a few Friends who used to loathe me for speaking the Truth --  bridges which Jesus has built to folks who probably would have rather seen me fall off of them and float down the river, at some point or another. 

Jesus took nails, cross beams, and rope to make a bridge to the Father in Heaven, leading us, as the pastor said this morning, away from condemnation, sin, and un-forgiveness. 

A Bridge leading us from trying-so-hard-to-be-holy-and-forgiven that we keep checking our lists of How to Be Good and What I Did Wrong, instead of checking in with Him -- to find what He wants for us. 

Jesus has taken the broken pieces of this girl, literally, and made something new.( I have the scars to prove it.) 

He does the same for all who come to the entrance of the bridge, which, if Catholics and Jews might look closely, is just beyond the empty tomb... 

Like Simon and Garfunkel sang once upon a time, He's the bridge over troubled water, laying Himself down. 

We don't have to Do Great Things, nor redress our Bad Things until we get it right, nor be forgiven by someone representing Him. 

We've got a Pedestrian Bridge which He built on good Friday. Keep looking ahead to the other side. 

"When you're weary  Feeling small   When tears are in your eyes   I will dry them all 

I'm on your side When times get rough And friends just can't be found 
Like a bridge over troubled water 
I will lay me down 
Like a bridge over troubled water 
I will lay me down 

When you're down and out    When you're on the street    When evening falls so hard 
I will comfort you 

I'll take your part     When darkness comes     And pain is all around 
Like a bridge over troubled water 
I will lay me down 
Like a bridge over troubled water 
I will lay me down 

Sail on Silver Girl, Sail on by   Your time has come to shine  All your dreams are on their way 

See how they shine  If you need a friend I'm sailing right behind 

Like a bridge over troubled water 
I will ease your mind 
Like a bridge over troubled water 
I will ease your mind"