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Be the bridge: How we are called to the ministry of reconciliation

Back in January, my husband and I took a trip to San Francisco to celebrate our 4th wedding anniversary. At the time, we didn’t know a global pandemic would follow just a few months later and this would be our last time enjoying the City by the Bay with such freedom.

We are runners so our favorite way to explore is by checking out local trails. We started out on a cool, blue-sky morning on the paved trail just under the Bay Bridge. We ran along Embarcadero Street past the Ferry Building and all the piers, past the Aquarium by the Bay and Fisherman’s Wharf.

And then it came into view.

That majestic bridge that makes San Francisco famous: The Golden Gate Bridge.

The Golden Gate Bridge is a 4,200-foot suspension bridge that spans a one-mile-wide strait connecting San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. This bridge is an international symbol of San Francisco and California. It’s considered one of the “Wonders of the Modern World.”

Shawn and I stopped for a break and gazed out at the great, poppy-red bridge before us. I couldn’t help thinking about how bridges serve a truly important purpose. They make a way. Bridges connect one part to another. Bridges provide a passage across a divide.

Isaac Newton said, “We build too many walls and not enough bridges.”

I am convinced that what we need in today’s chaotic political, social, and racial climate are more bridges. We are too busy building walls with our words, our choices, and our social media posts.

My friend’s husband designs and builds bridges. He helped me understand that strong bridges have five essential parts: the foundation, the beam, the bearing, the pier cap and the pier. Each of these five parts can be engineered in different ways but each plays a vital role to the overall stability of the bridge.

Each of us in the body of Christ has a different part but an indispensable role in building bridges. Our gifts, our stories, our cultures, our skills, our talents, and our sensitivities were all intentionally-given to us by God to serve the body of Christ. This is hard and holy work for all of us.

Building bridges requires sacrifice. It means taking time to learn the nuances of people who are wired differently from the way we are wired, who look different from the way we look.

Building a bridge means bending to listen to the suffering my sister has endured and leveraging my own privileges to help her amplify her voice.

Let’s be real: It’s so much easier for all of us to just hang with our own people, to remain in the safe spaces that don’t require us to be uncomfortable, stepped on, or repent of our own prejudices. It’s simpler to enjoy our personal freedoms without thinking about how these freedoms may infringe on the well-being of others, or worse, take advantage of the most vulnerable.

Jesus was the ultimate bridge. He didn’t just build bridges between people. He became the bridge himself. He was the connection, the foundation, the one who leveraged his own privileges to become human and secure eternity for all of us who choose to believe.

My Savior wore a crown of thorns and carried a cross up the steepest hill before the world to be crucified so we might all experience grace, freedom from sin, and His glory. He made himself the bridge for all humankind.

Being a bridge means following Jesus’ lead and actually laying down our politics, our prejudices, our passions, our perfect houses, our planned-out futures and our piercing sense of entitlement in this country on behalf of others.

Jesus invited us into the ministry or reconciliation. He designed us to be bridge builders for His Kingdom. Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 5:18-19:

“All of this is a gift from our Creator God, who has pursued us and brought us into a restored and healthy relationship with Him through the Anointed. And He has given us the same mission, the ministry of reconciliation, to bring others back to Him. It is central to our good news that God was in the Anointed making things right between Himself and the world. This means He does not hold their sins against them. But it also means He charges us to proclaim the message that heals and restores our broken relationships with God and each other” (The Voice).

This summer I led an online book club through LaTasha Morrison’s bestselling book, Be the Bridge: Pursuing God’s Heart for Racial Reconciliation. LaTasha’s book ushered us through some key components of the bridge-building process. Through acknowledgement, lament, confession, repentance, and making amends, reconciliation and restoration are possible.  

She writes about how reproduction as bridge builders is not optional: “God didn’t draw us through the process of reconciliation for our own sake. He reconciled us so we could bring reconciliation to others in his name… He made us bridge builders so we could draw others into bridge building in his name.”

Eleven men died building the Golden Gate Bridge. That glorious structure stands secure today because people laid down their lives. Who can imagine San Francisco without it?

What would happen if more white women who witnessed injustice against their Black and brown sisters linked arms to help them?

What if more pastors invited immigrants and refugees to share their stories with the church?

What would change if more teachers read books with their students about the history and sacrifice of people of color? 

What would our world be like if more people of color took the risk to steward their stories well?

In the same way, may the love of Christ compel us to serve and sacrifice for others and build more bridges to healing.

How is God calling you to be a bridge builder today?

**I love staying personally connected with readers. Subscribe to my Glorygram newsletter for weekly encouragement and all the behind-the-scenes details about my coming book, Walk, Run, Soar.

*This article was originally published at www.incourage.me.

*Photo by Joseph Barrientos on Unsplash.

*This post includes an Amazon affiliate link at no extra cost to readers.

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September 1, 2020 Categories: GeneralTagged: antiracism, culture, multiculturalism

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Meet Dorina

Aloha, friend! If you love stories, you are in the right place. I write about grief, glory, running, food, and more. I hope these words inspire you to chase after God’s glory in your life today!

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👀 Seeing this book baby on Amazon for pre-sale today made my day! I can’t wait to for you to hold her in your hands next Spring when she enters ...

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Aug 15

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👀 Seeing this book baby on Amazon for pre-sale today made my day! I can’t wait to for you to hold her in your hands next Spring when she enters the world! 📚 
📖 When Zayla asks her mom to describe God’s glory, Mama knows it’s time for an adventure! Together, Mama and Zayla discover how sunrises and dancing, daffodils and green peppers, kind words and loving hugs—and more!—are all reminders of God’s glory. ☀️ 
🥳 Huge shout out to @alyssadeasis for creating this gorgeous cover! 
👉🏾Where did you see God’s glory today?
🏷 TAG a friend who might like this multicultural book for kids of all ages! 
Pre-order using this link: https://amzn.to/3dymw2w or DM me and I’ll send it to you!
#kidlit #picturebook #bookcover #bookcoverdesign #glorychasers #weneeddiversebooks #multiculturalbooks @waterbrookmultnomahkids #kidsbooks #christianbook #jesusgirl
151 43

Today I’m walking through Psalm 96 with you. This one kind of just puts a spring in my step. I can hear the music behind the words! 🎶

...

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Aug 12

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Today I’m walking through Psalm 96 with you. This one kind of just puts a spring in my step. I can hear the music behind the words! 🎶 
I’ll be honest. I’ve been feeling wonky and weighted this week. I just turned in my book Tuesday and then had to tackle my mile-long to-do list and get my kids ready to go back to school. 
I woke up feeling down but this praise psalm lifted my head and reminded me who God is. I can lean on him and count on His character when I feel weary.
🌥Friend, how are you on this Friday? How can I pray for you? 
#devotional #prayer #biblestudy #encouragingwords #jesusgirl @incourage #glorychasers #hisword
25 14

I loved this conversation we had on Episode 10, Season 2 of Eat Pray Run with Gena Anderson. Gena is a Jesus-lover, writer, and nurse practitioner who...

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Aug 12

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I loved this conversation we had on Episode 10, Season 2 of Eat Pray Run with Gena Anderson. Gena is a Jesus-lover, writer, and nurse practitioner who loves to share wellness information and inspiration to the world around her. She is the author of The Well Woman: A Journey to Wellness Through Loving Jesus. She proudly holds the title of wife, mom, and the world’s most average CrossFitter. She shares why rest and meekness are strengths!
🎧 Listen anywhere you find your podcasts! 🎧
28 7

✏️ First day of school for my 5th, 8th, and 11th graders! We love how our school kicks off the year with a Convocation, including worship, prayer ...

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Aug 11

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✏️ First day of school for my 5th, 8th, and 11th graders! We love how our school kicks off the year with a Convocation, including worship, prayer and encouragement for students (and parents!)
I will miss my girls - as I always do this time of year - but I’m excited for what God has in store for them this school year! 
👉🏾Are your kids back in school? What grades are they going into this year? 📚
#backtoschool #schoolgirl @fresnochristianschools #fresno #jesusgirl
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📚 This summer I helped co-lead a book club for women leaders with @sybilkolbert & @mari.tuten We read Ruth Haley Barton’s 📖 Strengthening ...

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Aug 11

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📚 This summer I helped co-lead a book club for women leaders with @sybilkolbert & @mari.tuten We read Ruth Haley Barton’s 📖 Strengthening The Soul of Your Leadership. 📚  This was such a powerful book that both challenged and inspired our group. 
Ruth Haley Barton invited us to an honest exploration of what happens when spiritual leaders lose track of their souls. Each chapter included a spiritual practice for soul nourishment. 
I loved the way she unpacked the story of Moses and his leadership journey. This book came right on time as I’m discerning next steps and next projects. 
👉🏾Do you have a process for discernment? What are you saying yes and no to this fall? 
@ruthhaleybarton #discernment #jesusgirl #leadershipdevelopment #leadership #womenleaders @leadloved #leadon #sabbath #soulcare
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