Bridgework vs. Riverwork
Here's an allegory I love that eloquently addresses the need for proactive endeavor. It's called The Upstream Rescuer. I found it on the Prevention Institute's website and did some editing.
While walking along a river, a passerby sees someone drowning. After pulling the person ashore, the rescuer notices another person in the river in need of help. Before long, the river is filled with drowning people, and more rescuers are required to assist the first. Sadly, some people are not saved, and many fall back into the river after they’ve been pulled ashore. At this time, one of the rescuers starts walking upstream.
"Where are you going??!! We need you here!!" the others scream.
The rescuer replies, "I'm going upstream to see why people keep falling into the river."
As it turns out, the bridge across the river has a hole through which people are falling. The upstream rescuer realizes that fixing the hole will prevent people from falling into the river in the first place.
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I love this illustration because preparing citizens, especially young people for parenthood is indeed bridgework. It may be the only activity that is truly bridgework! This is a sobering thought because everything else being done to help children, families, and communities is riverwork...and riverwork doesn't keep people from falling through the hole in the bridge.
Here's an allegory I love that eloquently addresses the need for proactive endeavor. It's called The Upstream Rescuer. I found it on the Prevention Institute's website and did some editing.
While walking along a river, a passerby sees someone drowning. After pulling the person ashore, the rescuer notices another person in the river in need of help. Before long, the river is filled with drowning people, and more rescuers are required to assist the first. Sadly, some people are not saved, and many fall back into the river after they’ve been pulled ashore. At this time, one of the rescuers starts walking upstream.
"Where are you going??!! We need you here!!" the others scream.
The rescuer replies, "I'm going upstream to see why people keep falling into the river."
As it turns out, the bridge across the river has a hole through which people are falling. The upstream rescuer realizes that fixing the hole will prevent people from falling into the river in the first place.
************************************************
I love this illustration because preparing citizens, especially young people for parenthood is indeed bridgework. It may be the only activity that is truly bridgework! This is a sobering thought because everything else being done to help children, families, and communities is riverwork...and riverwork doesn't keep people from falling through the hole in the bridge.
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