The Bridge

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" The Bridge "

There was a man who had given much thought to what he wanted from life.

He had experienced many moods and trials. He had experimented with

different ways of living, and he had had his share of both success and

failure.

At last, he had begun to see clearly where he wanted to go. Diligently,

he searched for the right opportunity. Sometimes he came close, only to

be pushed away. Often he applied all of his strength and imagination,

only to find the path hopelessly blocked. And then at last it came! But

the opportunity would not wait. It would be made available only for a

short time. If it were seen that he was not committed, the opportunity

would not come again.

Eager to arrive, he started on his journey. With each step, he wanted to

move faster; with each thought about his goal, his heart beat quicker;

with each vision of what lay ahead, he found renewed vigor. Strength

that had left it since his early youth returned, and desires, all kinds

of desires, reawakened from their long-dormant positions.

Hurrying along, he came upon a bridge that crossed through the middle of

a town. It had been built high above a river in order to protect it from

the floods of spring. He started across. Then he noticed someone coming

from the opposite direction. As they moved closer, it seemed as though

the other was coming to greet him. He could clearly see, however, that

he did not know this other, who was dressed similarly except for

something tied around his waist.

When they were within hailing distance, he could see that what the other

had about his waist was a rope. It was wrapped around him many times and

probably, if extended, would reach a length of 30 feet. The other began

to uncurl the rope, and, just as they were coming close, the stranger

said, " Pardon me, would you be so kind as to hold the end a moment?

Surprised by this politely phrased but curious request, he agreed

without a thought, reached out, and took it. " Thank you, " said the

other, who then added, " two hands now, and remember, hold tight. "

Whereupon, the other jumped off the bridge. Quickly, the free-falling

body hurtled the distance of the rope's length, and from the bridge, the

man abruptly felt the pull.

Instinctively, he held tight and was almost dragged over the side. He

managed to brace himself against the edge, however, and after having

caught his breath, looked down at the other dangling, close to oblivion.

" What are you trying to do? " he yelled. " Just hold tight, " said the

other. " This is ridiculous, " the man thought and began trying to haul

the other in. He could not get the leverage, however. It was as though

the weight of the other person and the length of the rope had been

carefully calculated in advance so that together they created a

counterweight just beyond his strength to bring the other back to

safety.

" Why did you do this? " the man called out. " Remember, " said the other,

" if you let go, I will be lost. " " But I cannot pull you up, " the man

cried. " I am your responsibility, " said the other. " Well, I did not ask

for it, " the man said. " If you let go, I am lost, " repeated the other.

He began to look around for help. But there was no one. How long would

he have to wait? Why did this happen to befall him now, just as he was

on the verge of true success? He examined the side, searching for a

place to tie the rope. Some protrusion, perhaps, or maybe a hole in the

boards. But the railing was unusually uniform in shape; there were no

spaces between the boards. There was no way to get rid of this newfound

burden, even temporarily.

" What do you want? " he asked the other hanging below. " Just your help, "

the other answered. " How can I help? I cannot pull you in, and there is

no place to tie the rope so that I can go and find someone to help me

help you. " " I know that. Just hang on; that will be enough. Tie the rope

around your waist; it will be easier. " Fearing that his arms could not

hold out much longer, he tied the rope around his waist.

" Why did you do this? " he asked again. " Don't you see what you have

done? What possible purpose could you have in mind? " " Just remember, "

said the other, " my life is in your hands. " What should he do? " If I let

go, all my life I will know that I let this other die. If I stay, I risk

losing my momentum toward my own long-sought-after salvation. Either

way, this will haunt me forever. " With ironic humor he thought to die

himself, instantly, to jump off the bridge while he was still holding

on.

" That would teach this fool. " But he wanted to live and live fully.

" What a choice I have to make; How shall I ever decide? " As time went

by, still no one came. The critical moment of decision was drawing near.

To show his commitment to his own goals, he would have to continue on

his journey now. It was already almost too late to arrive in time. But

what a terrible choice to have to make!

A new thought occurred to him. While he could not pull this other up

solely by his own efforts, if the other would shorten the rope from his

end by curling it around his waist again and again, together, they could

do it! Actually, the other could do it by himself, so long as he,

standing on the bridge, kept it still and steady.

" Now listen, " he shouted down. " I think I know how to save you. " And he

explained his plan. But the other wasn't interested. " You mean you won't

help? But I told you I cannot pull you up myself, and I don't think I

can hang on much longer either. " " You must try, " the other shouted back

in tears. " If you fail, I die! " The point of decision had arrived. What

should he do? " My life or this other's? "

And then a new idea. A revelation. So new, in fact, it seemed heretical,

so alien was it to his traditional way of thinking. " I want you to

listen carefully, " he said, " because I mean what I am about to say. I

will not accept the position of choice for your life, only for my own;

the position of choice for your own life I hereby give back to you. "

" What do you mean? " the other asked, afraid. " I mean, simply, it's up to

you. You decide which way this ends. I will become the counterweight.

You do the pulling and bring yourself up. I will even tug a little from

here. " He began unwinding the rope from around his waist and braced

himself anew against the side.

" You cannot mean what you say! " the other shrieked. " You would not be so

selfish. I am your responsibility. What could be so important that you

would let someone die? Do not do this to me! " He waited a moment. There

was not change in the tension of the rope. " I accept your choice, " he

said, at last, and freed his hands.

- Edwin H. Friedman From the book " Friedman's Fables "