The Orange Road Bridge is a one-lane, weight-restricted bridge located near Powell, Ohio, and it is the bane of my existence.  It is so because of its impact on my drive time when trying to cross it (especially during peak driving times) and because of what it reveals about man’s nature.

The bridge, being only one lane, can only be crossed by traffic travelling in one direction at a time.  As a result, traffic builds up on either side when waiting to cross.  Currently, the trend is that cars cross one at a time, so that an east-bound car will cross, then a west-bound car, then an east-bound car and so on.  I hereby propose that this system be changed.

First, it would be more efficient for cars to cross two at a time from the east, and then two from the west and back again.  This system would be better because it would ease the line length on either side and would do so because it takes less time for two and two to cross then it would for the same four cars to cross one at a time. 

Second, it would be a more Scriptural system (here, in regards to what it reveals about man’s nature) because it would follow the pattern we see throughout and the nature in which man was created.  Let me expand on this a little.  The fact that we cross the bridge individually reveals how individualistic and self-focused we are as a society.  Just today I was waiting in line to cross the bridge (for the third time) when two cars crossed at the same time heading west.  The first car in the east-bound line immediately responded by angrily honking his horn.  Apparently he was upset by having to wait an additional 1.5 seconds for the second car to pass over.  The problem is that the Bible doesn’t teach such individualism.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

This passage is clearly teaching the principle of corporate togetherness.  Individualism is a bad thing, his labor is less, he has no help should he fall, he has no heat alone, and he has none to help him withstand his enemy.  In fact, we might could argue for three cars crossing the bridge at a time if we follow the strength in numbers argument found here.

John the Baptist also saw the importance of the two over the one:

Matthew 11:2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,

As did Christ:

Mark 6:7 And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;

Luke 10:1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

The Apostle Paul continued in practicing the principle:

2 Corinthians 13:1 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

And so also the Law:

Deuteronomy 17:6 At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.

The idea here is against one of individualism and self-focus and rather on our being corporate, communal creatures.  After all, we were created in the image of God, Himself a triune being–corporate and in communion with Himself:  Father with Son with Spirit.  As is seen in the Westminster Shorter Catechism:

Q. 6. How many persons are there in the Godhead?
A. There are three persons in the Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.

Q. 10. How did God create man?
A. God created man male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures.

As man, created in the image of the Triune God, we should acknowledge our being communal beings belonging to a corporate entity:  our family, our church, our community, our nation.  And in a tongue-in-cheek kind of way, the way we cross the Orange Road Bridge reveals that we are more concerned with ME–the individual than we are with US–the community, who are created in the image of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost–the Triune God.

–
mattb