Essay by Luke Foster
“Let’s build bridges, not walls.” Martin Luther king Jr
My brother got 99 for his HSC TER in high school and the university medal as top student at the University of NSW in civil engineering. In other words, he’s a smart cookie. His first job out of university was drilling core samples to test the ground for the foundations of the Pyrmont Bridge in Sydney. He kept making mistakes and losing the drill bits which cost $1000 each and got in trouble from his boss. Then later he went back to university to get a PHD in dam management on a scholarship when he was in his twenties.
Over the last few days, I have been experimenting in making bridges. Like all bridges literal and metaphorical the foundations are the most important part of the bridge, so the resulting bridge is safe and sound. The most important part of metaphorical bridges are the foundations of compassion and honest dialogue.
“The only way out of the labyrinth of suffering is to forgive.” John Green
I am hoping the people I am building the bridge with are happy, but I still feel a bit confused as I feel we are still just building the foundation of the bridge which is the most important part.
“A bridge can only learn what it feels like to cross a bridge by trying to understand the emotion of someone crossing the bridge.” Mehmet Murat Ildan
I am hoping that the result of this bridge is a strong foundation of compassion, understanding and friendship.
“Love and compassion are necessities not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.” Dalai Lama
The best bridge results in a win/win situation so both parties come out of the situation validated and happy.
“Win-win is a belief in the Third Alternative. It’s not your way or my way; it’s a better way, a higher way.” Stephen Covey
Vulnerability breeds compassion t-shirt of mine from a few years back.
When I go to Brooklyn New York next year, I want to walk over the Brooklyn bridge eating vegetarian pizza.