Bridge Or Barrier?

Nehemiah 2:17-18 (ESV) 

“Then I said to them, "You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision." And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, "Let us rise up and build." So, they strengthened their hands for the good work.”

Bridge: A structure that connects two pieces of land that have been separated by a physical barrier. 

Barrier: A physical object that blocks an object or person from reaching a destination.  

I often spend minutes at a time asking myself questions about why things come about: it ranges from ‘Why is the sky blue’ to wondering what the first person to build a bridge must have felt when two communities, previously separated, were brought together. I can imagine opening the bridge was momentous because suddenly there was more to just connecting the communities: building the bridge meant that trade would be easier, new friendships could be formed, ideas could be shared and more. 

Building bridges brings a whole lot more than connection.  

We live in a broken world. A world where inequalities, injustice and racism are rife. And now more than ever, the church needs bridge-builders: people that will step into the wide gap and bridge the divide.  

Racial justice and reconciliation are conversations and spaces where we need more bridge-builders: people that will call out racism, people that will listen, people that will continue to engage with conversations regardless of how difficult it is.  

You may feel like there is no way that you can impact such a big conversation but in today's passage, we see that we are ALL called to rebuild the city: we are called by name for such a time as this. Bridge building is kingdom business so I would again urge you to commit to being a bridge builder. 

Prayer — Father, I thank you that we have in you the perfect Bridge-Builder. Please give us the boldness to speak out against inequalities. Open our hearts to hear your voice. Help us to be bridge the gap.