fbpx

Adversity and the Miracle Bridge2 min read

It is almost impossible to go through life without some type of adversity popping up somewhere along the road. In both business and life there is always a Murphy’s Law hiding behind the corner. When I experience something of this manner I always reflect back to a particular story I read years back.

The story is about the building of the Brooklyn Bridge and is one of a miracle in the overcoming of Adversity.

In 1883, an engineer named John Roebling and his son Washington were inspired by an idea, a thought, a vision to build this spectacular bridge. Of course, all the so-called experts at that time said it could not be done.

They both pressed on anyways and developed the concepts of how this bridge could be built. They hired a crew and started building the bridge of their dream.

Just a few months into the project there was a tragic accident of which took the life of the father, John, and severely injured his son, Washington. Washington was left with permanent brain damage and was unable to walk or talk. It was now evident that the project would have to be scrapped since the Roeblings were the only ones that knew how the bridge could be built.

adversity and the miracle bridge

However, even though Washington was unable to walk or talk, his mind was as sharp as ever, and he still had the burning desire to complete the bridge. An idea hit him as he lay in his hospital bed that he could develop a code for communication. All he could do, however, is move one finger, so he used that one finger to tap the code of communication out on his wife’s arm on what to tell the engineers who were building the bridge. For thirteen years, Washington tapped out the instructions with his finger on his wife’s arm until the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge was finally completed.

The moral of this story is never, ever, ever say it can’t be done. Adversity is always around the corner in both life and business, however, keep the mindset that there is always a way.