10/24/2009

________ Greetings to you this Monday morning!! _________



In 1883, a creative engineer named John Roebling was inspired by an idea to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York and Long Island. But, bridge-building experts the world over thought that this was an impossible feat. 'It just could not be done.' 'It was not practical.' 'It had never been done before.'

Roebling could not ignore the vision he had of this bridge. He thought about it all the time and he knew deep in his heart that it could be done. He just had to share the dream with someone else. After much discussion and persuasion, he convinced his son Washington, an up and coming engineer, that the bridge in fact could be built. Working together for the first time, the father and son developed concepts of how it could be accomplished and how the obstacles could be overcome. With great excitement and inspiration, and the headiness of a wild challenge before them, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge.

The project started well, but when it was only a few months underway John Roebling was involved in a a tragic accident at the site which caused his death. The story goes that Washington was also injured and his brain damaged, which resulted in him not being able to walk or talk or even move.

"We told them so." "Crazy men and their crazy dreams." "It's foolish to chase wild visions." Repeated the bridge-building pundits. Everyone had a negative comment to make and felt that the project should be scrapped since the Roeblings were the only ones who professed to know how the bridge could be built.

In spite of his handicap, Washington was never discouraged and still had a burning desire to complete the bridge and his mind was still as sharp as ever. As he lay on his bed suddenly an idea hit him. All he could do was move one finger and he decided to make the best use of it. By moving this, he slowly developed a code of communication with his wife. He touched his wife's arm with that finger, indicating to her that he wanted her to call the engineers again. Then he used the same method of tapping her arm to tell the engineers what to do. It seemed foolish but the project was under way again. For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on his wife's arm, until the bridge was finally completed.

Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a tribute to the triumph of one man's indomitable spirit and his determination not to be defeated by circumstances. It is also a tribute to the engineers and their team work, and to their faith in their leader and his vision. The Brooklyn Bridge shows us that dreams that seem impossible can be realised with determination and persistence, no matter what the odds are. So, when you feel daunted, unsure of your ability to make your vision a reality - think of the Brooklyn Bridge and the lessons in persistence, team-work and vision it continues to teach us......and.....

_____ make it a great week ahead! _____