In 1883, a creative engineer named John Roebling was inspired by an
idea to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York with the Long
Island. However bridge building experts throughout the world thought
that this was an impossible feat and told Roebling to
forget the idea. It just could not be done. It was not practical. It
had never been done before.
Roebling could not ignore the vision he had in his mind of this
bridge. He thought about it all the time and he knew deep in his heart
that it could be done. He just had to share the dream with someone
else. After much discussion and persuasion he managed to convince his
son Washington, an up and coming engineer, that the bridge in fact
could be built.
Working together for the first time, the father and son developed
concepts of how it could be accomplished and how the obstacles could
be overcome. With great excitement and inspiration, and the headiness
of a wild challenge before them, they hired their crew and
began to build their dream bridge.
The project started well, but when it was only a few months underway a
tragic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling. Washington
was injured and left with a certain amount of brain damage, which
resulted in him not being able to walk or talk or even move.
"We told them so."
"Crazy men and their crazy dreams."
"It`s foolish to chase wild visions."
Everyone had a negative comment to make and felt that the project
should be scrapped since the Roeblings were the only ones who knew how
the bridge could be built. In spite of his handicap Washington was
never discouraged and still had a burning desire to complete
the bridge and his mind was still as sharp as ever.
He tried to inspire and pass on his enthusiasm to some of his friends,
but they were too daunted by the task. As he lay on his bed in his
hospital room, with the sunlight streaming through the windows, a
gentle breeze blew the flimsy white curtains apart and he was
able to see the sky and the tops of the trees outside for just a moment.
It seemed that there was a message for him not to give up. Suddenly an
idea hit him. All he could do was move one finger and he decided to
make the best use of it. By moving this, he slowly developed a code of
communication with his wife.
He touched his wife's arm with that finger, indicating to her that he
wanted her to call the engineers again. Then he used the same method
of tapping her arm to tell the engineers what to do. It seemed foolish
but the project was under way again.
For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on
his wife's arm, until the bridge was finally completed.
Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a
tribute to the triumph of one man's indomitable spirit and his
determination not to be defeated by circumstances.
It is also a tribute to the engineers and their team work, and to
their faith in a man who was considered mad by half the world.
It stands too as a tangible monument to the love and devotion of his
wife who for 13 long years patiently decoded the messages of her
husband and told the engineers what to do!!
SPIRITUAL COMMENTARY
Perhaps this is one of the best examples of a never-say-die attitude
that overcomes a terrible physical handicap and achieves an impossible
goal.
Often when we face obstacles in our day-to-day life, our hurdles seem
very small in comparison to what many others have to face.
The Brooklyn Bridge shows us that dreams that seem impossible can be
realised with determination and persistence, no matter what the odds
are.
Even the most distant dream can be realized with determination and persistence!!
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