Caissons of Faith

I'm a nut for a great bridge. The structure, the purpose, the artistic design of a good bridge just wins my heart. Bridges take us from one place to another. They span gaps. They can be both functional and beautiful.

I just finished reading David McCullough's fabulous retelling of the building of the Brooklyn Bridge (The Great Bridge). Of all the challenges faced in erecting this mammoth structure, finished in 1883, setting the caissons was the first formattable barrier.

A caisson is a water-tight structure that is lowered into deep water or soft earth to make it possible for workers to prepare the foundations of the bridge. The Brooklyn Bridge was only the second such structure to use this technology in the United States and it's a miracle they worked at all, given the obstacles they faced.

But here's the interesting thing: If you cross the Brooklyn Bridge today, you would never know the caissons were there. They are hidden 40 or more feet below the waterline, offering strength and stability to the engineering marvel. Without them, there would be no bridge at all.

What "foundational" practices are the source of strength to your Spiritual Journey? What caissons form the strong base of your faith?

For many, the act of journaling is just such a support. For those who sit with pen and journal in hand, there is no expectation that the words on the page will be seen by anyone. The scratchings on the page are not expected to turn into novels. Seldom are they eloquent. In fact, the words may be raw, filled with emotion, written quickly and stained by falling tears. They can be shallow, simple reflections on the day's heat or the dry grass of summer. They might be a rambling series of thoughts about politics, the price of bread, a fond memory, questions about aging and health. They can be as simple as reflecting on the blue birds visiting your back yard.

But those words can also be beautiful insights about faith; questions written to God about the nature of a passage recently read, a prayer for healing or peace, reflections on the human condition and the world's suffering. Sometimes, journaling can be a place where we write our deepest secrets, or our greatest joys.

On these pages, filled over time, our ponderings can remind us of our faith. And sometimes, our lack of faith. Either way, they act as a firm foundation to the journey.

If you've never tried it before, or if it's been a bit since you last wrote your thoughts, I would encourage you to dedicate one month to journaling your thoughts and prayers. You will find that it opens your heart and mind. It can become foundational to a deeper level in your faith life.

This is part of “The Formative Path” a 2024 Fall Sermon Series at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Bloomington, Indiana. For more information and the Weekly Reflection Sheets, go to https://ponderingpassages.com/category/path/

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