Determination and Persistence

In 1870, a creative engineer named John Roebling was inspired by an idea to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York with the Long Island.

However bridge building experts throughout the world thought that this was an impossible feat and told Roebling to forget the idea. It just could not be done.

But Roebling was very determined.

He managed to convince his son Washington, an upcoming engineer, that the bridge in fact could be built. Together the father and son developed concepts of how it could be accomplished. They hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge.

The project started well, but when it was only a few months underway, a tragic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling.

Washington got severely injured and lost his ability to talk or walk.

Everyone had a negative comment to make and people thought the project has to be stopped totally.

In spite of his handicap, Washington was never discouraged and still had a burning desire to complete the bridge and his mind was still as sharp as ever. 

But he was helpless. All he could do was move one finger. He decided to make the best use of it. 

By moving this, he slowly developed a code of communication with his wife.

He touched his wife' arm with that finger, indicating to her that he wanted her to call the engineers again. Then he used the same method of tapping her arm to tell the engineers what to do. The project was under way again.

For 13 years, Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on his wife's arm, until the bridge was finally completed. 

Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a tribute to the triumph of their determined spirit, which was not to be defeated by any circumstances.

Lesson :

Determined spirit surely offers the way to achieve success, so much so that one can attain the kingdom of God.