"Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down"? The duo’s biggest hit, "Bridge Over Troubled Water," spent six weeks at No.1 in the US (three weeks in the UK). It swept the Grammys in 1971, claiming six awards including Song Of The Year and Record Of The Year. The song has been translated into many languages, it’s been covered by hundreds of artists, including Johnny Cash, Annie Lennox, Bonnie Tyler, Elvis Presley, and Aretha Franklin. The inspirational lyrics and melody were composed by Paul Simon, and Art Garfunkel provided the soaring, spine-tingling vocals. But few people know the story behind the song.
But, beyond those lines, “I was stuck for a while,” Simon admits. “Everywhere I went led to somewhere I didn’t want to be.”
What ultimately inspired him to finish his “humble little gospel song” was an album by the Southern gospel group the "Swan Silvertones": “Every time I came home, I put that record on, so it was in my mind. I started to go to gospel chord changes, and took the melody further. Then there was one song where the lead singer was scatting, and he shouted out: ‘I’ll be your bridge over deep water/If you trust in my name.’ And, well, I guess I stole it.”
Those who live on the third, highest level of the bridge of Christ are the true sons and daughters of God. Their friendship with God is based on loving God for the sake of love. These souls are willing to accept suffering out of love for God and their union with the crucified Christ. This is the abandonment of self which leads to deification - the union of the human and divine in us. These souls live in a constant holy movement of kissing the mouth of Christ their Bridegroom, as it says in the Biblical Song of Songs:
"Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth,
For your lovemaking is sweeter than wine....
Show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet and your face is lovely....My love is mine and I am his."
Christ our Bridegroom calls to us, "I'll be your bridge over deep water if you trust in my name!"
Are we going to creep over this Christ Bridge, trembling with every step, since we're only crossing because we fear the deep waters of sin and the punishment of God? It is so good that we are finally following with our feet in his footsteps, but can we eventually go to the next level?
Or, are we going to skip over this Christ Bridge, gladdened because the sweetness of God's love has been poured over us, and we live heart to heart with him, and we think that, if we stay in the Heart of Christ, no evil can happen to us or those we love? Or, can we realize that God's love for us cannot prevent all sorrow, and eventually go to the next level?
Or will we walk slowly and prayerfully over this Christ Bridge, totally surrendered to the Crucified Christ, so in love with him that we yearn to be united with him, even though that means embracing his cross? Where there is the deepest surrender, there is great love, which always brings great suffering because it hurts to surrender our egos. But here is the greatest and highest peace and joy.
In these troubled times of insecurity and turmoil, only one bridge is safe to take, only one bridge can bring peace to our souls. "When you're weary, feeling small, when tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all." Surrender to the peace, majesty, comfort, and challenge of the Bridge of Christ; stretch out your hands and feet to cross over him, even when you know there is suffering on the other side. Trust that the love and strength of him will stay beneath you as a firm and faithful foundation to support you. One day, He will dry all those tears.
Perhaps, you stand next to the bridge and are undecided. Or afraid. You know that, once you take that first step, your life will radically change. Or, perhaps, you've traveled halfway across, and you want to go back. Can you choose to allow the Holy Spirit to fill your soul with the love and endurance it takes to walk all the way from earth to heaven across this Bridge Which is Christ? He is the only Way to Salvation. God the Father said to St. Catherine:
"And why should he have made of himself a roadway? So that you might in truth come to the same joy as the angels. But my Son's having made of himself a bridge for you could not bring you to life unless you make your way along that bridge."