One afternoon during the Harvest 2012 Summer Trip, we drove through the Covered Bridge Capitol of the World – a county in Central Indiana. It was a fun, peaceful stop.
Covered bridges were really popular 100 years ago, at the turn of the century. The reasons for building them were practical:
1) They were covered to protect the floors from rotting.
2) They were covered so they would shield the horses ears and eyes from fast moving water.
3) They were covered to protect the trusses, the heavy timber that held up the structure.
It’s the third reason that scholars believe was the most the most important. Flooring can be replaced rather easily and inexpensively, but the structure is much more difficult and costly to replace. A wooden bridge with no covering might last 10 to 15 years, but a covered wooden bridge might last 100 years!
As I reflect on that stop to the covered bridges, there’s an element I can learn in my own life. What kind of coverings do I need to protect the structure of my life? Maybe the covering is being a part of a church. Being connected to family and friends. Being held accountable in faith and in living as a follower of Christ. Moral standards, integrity, a desire for holiness and the list goes on.
These are the things that keep the foundation protected– withstanding the test of time – no matter the “weather”.
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