Bridge Allusion Essay

Christians often view salvation as a heavenly resting place of love and comfort; in reality, however, salvation is a lifelong journey that bridges the gap between Heaven and Earth. Believers cross this spiritual bridge through faith coupled with good works. “Bridge,” a short story by Daniel O’Malley, features a young, boy who struggles to comprehend, and find, salvation. In the story, “Bridge,” various Biblical allusions express the motif of a path to salvation. Two biblical allusions immediately propel the reader into the complexities of salvation; as the narrator contemplates his daily routine, he remembers two Bible stories as he says, “...but also about the flood and locusts and frogs and other plagues that had happened before and could

This lesser known story recounts that, while out preaching, Jesus, rather than sending a hungry crowd away to starve in their barren, unfruitful city, performed a miracle and fed them all with fish and bread. The story of Jesus feeding Five Thousand from the four Gospels indicates a strong and significant Biblical allusion. O’Malley uses the final allusion to show that those still learning can begin to receive the fruits of salvation. The narrator, still learning his faith, receives this blessing as he witnesses the miracle of the suicidal couple turning into birds, “... their bodies shrank and their arms turned flat and wide, flapping”(195). For any child, witnessing death, especially suicide, can cause negative psychological side effects. Because of this, God grants the narrator peace of mind, one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, as he begins his personal path to

Like all believers, he learns to comprehend the stories in the Bible and view them as stories of hope and happiness. Having understood this, he expresses feeling of content, rather than fear as he says, “...he wasn’t upset anymore”(195). His feeling of contentment allows readers to allow for “Bridge” to contain the motif of salvation. The uncrossed bridge of salvation represents the motif of salvation. Unused, mistreated, and practically forgotten, the bridge represents the neglected path of salvation seen with modern young adults and teenagers. “Bridge” uses Biblical support to encourage readers to reconnect with salvation and begin the journey that starts in the soul. At the end of the story, the narrator questions, “[p]eople crossed it now...usually only halfway….”(195). As the story concludes, the narrator strengthens the motif by showing that Christians must not simply expect salvation, they must actively seek it