Blog

Nov 09, 2024 06:00am

The M Bridge

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I sat in my comfy bed in a cute, hip new hotel in downtown Memphis, listening to an audiobook with the drapes and shades open, giving me a beautiful view of the Mississippi River and the M bridge where I 40 brings at least 37,308 travelers into or out of Tennessee every day, according to a study that was done in 2018. That big beautiful bridge stole my attention.

Not only does this bridge beautifully illuminate at night, but the structure itself blows my mind. How in the world can a bridge that big and long (900 feet long and 90 feet wide according to the Internet) hold the weight of all of those vehicles, without bowing, or breaking?!

My curiosity took me to the Internet. One search led to another, which led to another, and so on, until I had read and learned as much as I could about not only this specific bridge, but just bridges in general. My non-engineer brain still can’t fathom how the bridge stands unwavering as I watch hundreds of vehicles, including many 18 wheelers, cross over it without any effect.

I am grateful God gave other people brains that can grasp and understand the concepts of tied-arch and through-arch structures, and all that goes into creating a beautiful bridge that allows safe passage for people like me, who might not ever grasp how that kind of science works. Isn’t it great that I don’t have to know and understand all of those details to benefit from the bridge? Whether I understand how or even believe those ideas to be true, I can still drive across the bridge and make it to the other side.

There’s nothing wrong with asking questions about how this bridge could work, researching the science behind how it is truly a trusted path to carry me and my family across, or even fighting an internal battle about whether or not the bridge can truly take me safely across.

If I decide to avoid the bridge all together, that’s when the real problem begins. I would be very limited if I decided not to cross the river because I am afraid of the bridge. I would never get home. I would be stuck, stranded, separated from my people and my normal life until I could get past my fear. I can see evidence that this bridge has safely carried thousands of others across since 1973. I can read about the science behind the structure. Those things can give me more confidence to trust the bridge to get me safely across, as well. And, if I traveled that bridge as often as some of the locals do, I would KNOW I could trust it, because it would be second nature – part of my normal routine.

I guess this made me think about times that I have gotten scared about big things that I have faced in life. Metaphorically, they might have also felt 900 feet long or 90 feet wide, even if they were only in my mind.

I will not ever understand all of God’s ways, but I can see that He has always been faithful before, and I can trust that He will continue to be faithful time and time again. I can look back at my own life and recall times He has provided for me, comforted me, and worked out all things for His glory and the good of His people (including me and my family) (Romans 8:28). I can read account after account of God’s trustworthiness and faithfulness in His Word. I have witnessed and observed how He has been faithful in the lives of others. Plus, I know Him…and He knows me. So, I can trust God to take care of whatever trials I may face-part of my normal routine.

Whatever may come, I can rely on God. If I only trust what I can understand, I won’t get very far!

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭CSB‬‬