Crossing the Bridge

I stood about 60 feet above the middle of the swirling waters of the James River feeling dizzy.
"I can do this," I murmured to myself, forcing myself to walk forward. I stayed in the middle of the pedestrian bridge and looked straight ahead.
"If you want a really beautiful view," the guard had told me, "Take the pedestrian bridge over to Belle Isle."
And so here I was, on the pedestrian bridge over to Belle Isle, halfway across and doing LaMaze deep breathing to keep from keeling over. There may indeed have been a beautiful view but if I looked to the right or to the left, I would surely die.

I forced myself quick side glances. Waterfalls and rapids raced across the river bed.  The river was catapulting wildly downstream, crashing against rocks.  I noticed a goose trying to swim against the raging current with little success.

"If the bridge collapses, I am dead," I thought. But I had not gone on this morning run to this beautiful river to turn back in fear. I moved forward again and jogged all the way over to the island. The bridge was quite long, over a wide stretch of river. The guard rails were low. If I fainted with enough force, I could definitely topple over them. I snapped some photographs and knew I'd procrastinated long enough. I had to run back over the bridge now.

For those of you who have no fear of heights, this may seem stupid. And it is. But no matter how many times I tell myself it is stupid, I can't stop the sweating palms, the hyperventilating, the racing heart. As I ran back, I saw a homeless man in the middle of the bridge. He was watching me intently, leaning on the guard rail. I surmised he was homeless by his unkempt, dirty clothes, untrimmed hair, and slightly disturbed look in his eyes. Now not only did I have to contend with my intense fear of heights on the very scariest point of this treacherous crossing, but a potentially deranged man stood watching me, like a troll ready to pose the three questions I would have to answer before he would let me pass.

"Stop! Who would cross the Bridge of Death must answer me these questions three ere the other side he see."

"Really? Look, how about if I just give you money? Normally that is against my policy with homeless folk, but in view of my limited resources here, I am willing to make an exception."

“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
   Tell me, if you understand.
 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
   Who stretched a measuring line across it?
 On what were its footings set,
   or who laid its cornerstone—
 while the morning stars sang together
   and all the angels shouted for joy?"

"That's 4 questions," I said, swaying as I tried to look at the distant shore, and not the waters cascading far below.

"The last one is extra credit," said the troll.

"Well, question number one is difficult. I don't know where I was at the beginning of time. Some folks think I was primordial ooze waiting to gum together and develop a brain."
The troll glared at me, and I feared he was about to shove me off the bridge to the carnivorous geese paddling in place beneath me.
"Ok, before I was born, God knew me. Is that close enough?"
"Question Two!" roared the Troll.
"Ok, that one I know. God was the one who marked the earth's dimensions and measured it."
The troll nodded, but his evil eyes glittered.
"Question Three!!!!?"
"On what were its footings set....that one is hard.....I'm not sure I know."

My own footing was growing perilously clammy. The river roared, and the bridge creaked. The troll began to lift his brown paper bag to point at me, and I shouted my answer,
"Faith! Its footing is set on faith!!!!"
"Move on," grumbled the troll, stepping aside, and taking a swig from his bag of curses.

I ran on to the other end of the bridge.
"I have to go get Asherel," I thought as I ran back to the hotel, "I can do that crossing again and she has to see the beautiful view."

Job 40

 ¹ The LORD said to Job:
 ² “Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?
   Let him who accuses God answer him!”

Job 42

 ¹ Then Job replied to the LORD:  ² “I know that you can do all things;
   no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
³ You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’
   Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
   things too wonderful for me to know.
 ⁴ “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;
   I will question you,
   and you shall answer me.’
⁵ My ears had heard of you
   but now my eyes have seen you.
⁶ Therefore I despise myself
   and repent in dust and ashes.”