LOVE BUILDS BRIDGES

Proverbs 17:9 
Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.

The picture is from my prayer wall. I was reading my daily devotional and the verse above written really struck me. 

The bible verse reminds me of an idiom-' burn one's bridges':

Have you tried that? 
I have. But most of the time i'm the one at the other side of the bridge watching others burn bridges. Whether you are in the ministry or not, serving people or not, people will come and go. As a minister, you can pour out your life and give your best and still people will leave. 

Oh I can get over every time someone walks off. Its nothing personal no matter how personal my occupation is. What saddens me is not why they left(everyone has reaaons. Its not always bout you), but how they left.

I have tried experiencing the usual 'changing of numbers so I won't be able to contact them'. 

Or The usual 'avoid me game' and even 'blocking me in the facebook/twitter/instagram strategy'. 
I have tried almost all possible burning bridges situation even to the outright spite and bitter words.
And it stings I tell you. 

It always makes me wonder... The many years it took to build those bridges... Easily burned with just a single word. 
A gesture. 

How can someone do that? I always end up looking at pictures of people that was once so close to me, dear to my heart, who was with you for better or worse, sickness and health...and now are complete strangers. At times, they're like people who used to be alive in your life but now dead with the gaping hole in your heart. 

WHEN ALL YOU HAVE ARE ASHES
Most of the time, i am left with ashes to pick up with. How do you move on? How do you rebuild? 

Much like the prodigal son in Luke15. If you read it in a human point of view: 
He asked for an inheritance while his father was still alive( parang sinasabi nyang-mamatay kana! Ang mana binibigay lang yan pag wala na ang nagbibigay)

He left and moved to a distant country after getting his inheritance. He literal made the gap.

He wasted all he got from his father on booze and women until he got broke. 

Then in his desperation, because he haven't tried working all his life, he went to the easiest yet dirtiest job he could find-pig tenant. 

He definitely burned the bridge down big time! 

But... This is not like any story... for in the eyes of God, the more the bridges are broken, burned down and in ashes.. The more its possible for God to rebuild it. 

LOVE BUILDS BRIDGES
How did Christ do that? How did he rebuilt the bridges we've burned like in th prodigal son? Love. 

The proverbs reminded me how today. Build on Love. Not the feelings.. But the decision. The choice to build and rebuild despite the stings of the fire that burned down the bridges. 
God rebuilt the bridge from the ashes by becoming one. When God became man in Jesus. He filled in that eternal gap between God and man through Jesus.

Here is God's word to emphasis it:
18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 (NLT)

BRIDGE MASTER AND REBUILDER
Since Jesus reconciled us with him... Its easier to rebuild also with others. 

Did i write easy? Yes, its easier.
You don't have to start from scratch. You can just look at Jesus how he did it. 
Look at the Cross and thats the bridge the Bridge Master made. And The Master? He was the one nailed to the cross. Ask Him. What did he do? 

He forgave people even before they asked for forgiveness. He didn't wait for us to be sorry or admit it even before he died at the cross. He did it already. Despite the nails. The crown of thorns and the whipping on his back. He forgave. 

Romans 5:8New International Version (NIV)

8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

It starts there. Just like in the proverbs: love grows and prospers when you forgive. Love and forgiveness should never be separated. When you love someone, you will forgive even if they weren't sorry. You won't wait until they do. You already forgave them. 

And as you forgive, you don't really notice, you've already put on one part of that bridge. 

Each time you forgive, another part is added... Until finally like that prodigal son coming home to his father, you are already running towards home. 

THIS IS FOR YOU
If i have burned bridges with my words and actions, please forgive me. I am truly sorry. I have intentionally hurt you and if i could go back, i would have taken them all back. I wish to rebuild my bridges so i pray that one day you could forgive me as Christ have forgiven me and you.