The Bridge

A man came to a chasm in the road he traveled, and looked down into the oblivion. He knew that in order to continue his journey, he must somehow traverse the chasm and make it to the other side. He saw in the distance a bridge. The bridge was massive, and many people made their way across it to the other side. He stood in line so that he, too, could use the bridge to take him to his destination.

"Do you have your papers?" the bridge keeper asked him as he approached.

"Papers? What papers do I need?" the man asked.

"Everyone who uses this bridge must show their papers," the bridge keeper demanded. "If you do not have your papers, you cannot use the bridge."

"I have no papers," the man stated. "What must these papers prove of me?"

"These papers merely show that you have the basic requirements to use this bridge," the bridge keeper told him. "Do you have any such papers?" he asked again.

"And what are these basic requirements?" the man asked, already afraid he could not produce the proof needed to cross the bridge.

"It's very simple," the bridge keeper replied as he sighed and rolled his eyes. "You must have been born in this land to use this bridge."

"I was," the man responded.

"You must be of the correct age to use this bridge; that is you must be mature enough to understand the dangers of crossing over such a height."

"I am, and I do understand," the man responded.

"You must have the ability to cross this bridge," the bridge keeper continued.

"I have the ability," the man said.

"You must have the mental capacity to understand the benefits and risks of crossing this bridge," the bridge keeper added.

"I am mentally capable of understanding both the benefits and risks of crossing this bridge," the man again responded.

"And finally, you must pay the toll to the ones who own the bridge, and to help support those who use the bridge," the bridge keeper concluded.

"I can pay the toll," the man said, relieved that he quite possibly had passed the necessary requirements to cross the bridge. He opened his jacket to reach inside and get his wallet.

The bridge keeper noticed the man's shirt, and shifted uncomfortably as he cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, you cannot cross this bridge," the bridge keeper said sternly.

"But why not, I have passed all your requirements!" the man exclaimed.

"You cannot cross the bridge because of that label you wear on your shirt," the bridge keeper explained. "You must have received that label for breaking one of the laws of this land, and despite having all the other qualifications, you are not allowed to cross this bridge because you wear that label."

The man left the bridge keeper, dejected, and somehow not surprised. He was told when he was given his label that it would be difficult to move across this great land as he was once allowed to do.

"Wait just one moment!" the bridge keeper yelled.

The man turned around, hopeful that the bridge keeper had made an exception. "You must still pay the toll, even though you cannot use this bridge!" Other people surrounded the man, as one of them stepped forward and took his wallet, emptying it of its contents and handing it back to the man.

The man stood there in utter disbelief as the people walked away from him. But instead of giving up, the man walked back to his original path, and stared across the chasm. "I will build my own bridge, one that anyone wearing my label can use, as long as they show that they are willing to step out from behind their label and once again contribute to the greater good of this land."

The man spent all his resources to build a bridge across the chasm. He faced many pitfalls and hurdles along the way. He exhausted all that he had, but he finally built his bridge.

Upon its completion, he began to let those who wore his same label on their shirts use his bridge. The people were thankful, and were able to get to the other side of the chasm and continue their journeys.

The people on the larger bridge mocked at this smaller bridge, and said that it would never last. They said it was not strong enough, and would eventually fall under the pressure placed upon it. But the man continued to fortify it, despite its many weaknesses and lack of support. Others saw the value in the man's bridge, and did what they could to help him support it as best they could.

A few years later, after hundreds of people had crossed the bridge and continued their journeys, the bridge began to falter; and despite all the man's efforts, it fell into the chasm. Just before it did, the man was able to get all those who were on it across to the other side safely, and stop those who were about to cross it before it fell.

The bridge keeper and several of the people using the larger bridge walked over to see all the commotion. "I knew it wouldn't last!" some yelled mockingly. "Such a bridge should never have been built!" they laughed.

A few others quietly consoled the man, "It was never meant to be, at least not here. We saw the value in this bridge, and we applaud you for your efforts. Perhaps someday you can build a bigger, better bridge."

The man got down on his knees and prayed. "Dear God, thank you for the strength to build that bridge, and give me the strength to build another, stronger bridge. Amen."

Then, in a loud, unified cheer from across the chasm came this: "Thank you!"

The man shed a tear as he looked upon the remains of his bridge. "This bridge served its purpose," he said quietly. Then he wandered up and down the edge of the chasm, looking for a place to begin building another, stronger bridge.