Cross that bridge when you come to it.

"Cross that bridge when you come to it."

This is inscribed on a plaque at one end of a massive bride I visited a couple of years ago.

This bridge is 420 feet long, the longest suspension footbridge in southern Ontario and on a clear day you can see 10,000 square kilometres in every direction - that's almost 4,000 square miles, US friends Two massive steel towers, huge concrete anchors at either end keeping it in place, solid cables running from one end to the other keeping the whole thing up.

At its highest you're 80+ feet above the ground which is not super awesome for someone like me who's a bit scared of heights.

But, trust me, it's incredible!!

So how did they build this thing? I can't imagine they just brought some cranes up a mountain or a helicopter dropped it in place. How did this monster bridge get here?

It started with fishing line.

This massive bridge across this huge valley at the top of a mountain, started with a guy shooting his bow from one side to the other, with fishing line attached to the arrow.

When the fishing line was secured it was used as a guide to run a light wire, then a heavier wire, then a cable, eventually to the point where the massive cables were able to be guided from one side of the valley to the other. All starting with a fishing line.

So what's the point?

I've been thinking about the work we do, the work you do, and how so many of you are looking to really shape the world around you. You know you are called to make an imprint in the lives of people. And I believe you and I want to see it happen!

And you think that means you need a bridge. A huge, gigantic structure which is so impressive that people will come from all over to see the work you do. A way to help so many people conquer big obstacles!

But you get stuck because you don't know how to get those steel towers up or how to get that massive cable across the valley. You're figuring out how to build a bridge when all you know is you want to help people get from one mountain to the other without having to walk through this gigantic valley.

So you stop. You do nothing. "If I'm not a bridge, I guess I can't help people."

And I've been there, I've believed it, and it's held me back in the past.

But.. what if you started with fishing line? What if you started with a small act of faith? What if you took a shot with what you've got now, believing your invisible thread might one day become a steel cable, supporting incredible work and helping people move mountains?

What does it look like for you to shoot a fishing line across the valley?

One conversation. One encouragement. One blog post. One youtube video. One offer to help, no strings attached. One encouraging thank you card. One meal with a young leader who can't afford it.

We can't all build mega steel bridges across mountains, but that's not the point. We've all got fishing line. We can all take a shot. And, for some of you, that fishing line will one day allow you to become a destination where people come all year round so that you can help them get from one mountain to another.. but maybe not. Maybe we'll all just keep shooting arrows and help people one line at a time.

I believe you can do that. I believe in you. And I'm doing the same thing.

One arrow at a time ??