St Peters RC Church Hamilton

Bridges above, where do they go

As over the water with insistent flow,

A pathway is made up in the air,

For lower is water with no room to spare.

From north to south a roadway is found

Or east to west, perhaps homeward bound.

Stone, steel, iron, brick the bridges’ structure,

A man made feat sometimes of splendour.

Some are ancient, many are new,

All span across an open view,

Often found in a town or city,

Occasionally architecturally, bridges are very pretty.

A ribbon of river around our town,

Bridges will link the urban population,

To offer freedom’s escape from the conurbation,

As if they speak a silent invitation

‘Come, dear people explore our nation.’

Walk or motor across the bridge’s span,

Admiring the structure made by man.

Thinking perhaps more philosophically,

Of life’s bridges, encountered spiritually.

Where, what or who bridges heaven to earth?

As heaven is sinless we need new birth.

This grace and favour gifted by the Almighty

Can only be found within the Trinity!

The One we name, the Messiah called ‘Jesus’,

He is God’s Son who comes to save us.

As with Him, together we walk,

Accompanied by His Spirit, that also we talk.

Hope becomes a decided reality,

Jesus divinity saves us, all of humanity.

We cross over to the other side,

No longer ashamed no need to hide.

The bridge set before us, straight and narrow,

Reveals the way forwards, we have to follow.

Jesus is Leader, Healer, Master and Saviour,

The power of His love is our redeemer.

Sinfulness can be now mercifully forgiven, forgotten,

Our eyes, our gaze fixed firmly on heaven.

This bridge to cross spans our life time,

Holy security and safety being our lifeline.

To start the journey we have to pray,

Prepared to do this day by day.

When we do we embark on a journey,

Ultimately leading us to be happy eternally.

For faith is a most exciting adventure,

An undertaking where we should never fear to venture.

The richest, closest, most precious friendship,

Is the Son of God whom we honour in Christ Jesus.

We have become His own family,

Crossing from death to life in becoming holy.

This does take time and may not be too easy,

But becoming holy is to be happy, a sure guarantee.

It is best to resolve to start today,

Not allowing anything evil to block your way.

Then, as you make sure and steady progress,

Be sure to offer thanks for our Saviour Jesus.

His love is the bridge we walk across,

His arms stretched out upon a †.

Walk and pray, talk along the way,

Relying on Jesus to lead you each day.

Be prepared for surprises even as the bridge may bend,

To our Father your thoughts you must regularly send.

Calling on the protective Spirit of holiness

To shield and safeguard us in Christ Jesus.

Do not look down lest you become dizzy,

Look at the heights instead, admiring the beauty.

And in time, no one knows how long,

You will reach the destination to which you belong.

The bridge we call ‘faith’ will take us forwards,

Such will be your joy you will not want to look backwards!

Faith shows us that the Lord God of holy mercy,

Blesses us richly day by day in His Son,

The living Word of His promise to care for us, faith won.

To shield and defend us from all that is evil’s sword,

Bring this offering Christ Jesus as the Word living

Of God’s presence, His love, His healing safekeeping.

All by means of the Third Person of the Trinity,

Which is the faith giving, life enriching Spirit who is holy.

Here we cross over the bridge from doubt to assurance!

Blessed assurance of God’s ever loving real presence.

From fear of punishment for our wrong doing

To believing in the mercy gifted us in Christ Jesus as love ensuing,

From anxiety, fret and worry to the ability to pray.

To pray our doubt, fears and worry, driven away.

We have crossed over from insecurity to holy safety,

Landing firmly in the arms of holy love our security,

Where daily, the Lord Jesus will say to us, tenderly

‘Walk with Me, and be not afraid. I am by your side regularly.’

BELIEF