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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Bridge (07/31/08)
The evening of August 1, 2007 would be a regular Wednesday evening at my Belleville, Illinois apartment. I usually got home around five, and I would fix dinner. I would of listened to Charles Stanely radio program and read my bible that night.

Shortly after 8:30 PM, I got this e-mail form a radio program that I usually listen to. The title of it said "Twin Cities Disaster." It caught my eye, because I had lived most of my life in the Twin Cities. I had only lived in Belleville since 2002. I lived in St Louis City for a year and a year in Marion, Illinois before that. I moved to take a career job in Marion that did not work out. I moved to St Louis in 2001 because I believed that the opportunities for getting a job would be greater there.

Back to the e-mail that I had received from the radio show. It said that the 35W bridge in downtown Minneapolis collapsed. I was shocked; I could not believe that this happened. I knew if I went to the WCCO radio website, (a CBS radio affiliate) I would be able to get live streaming coverage about what had happened. I don't remember any detail about three coverage except Mike Max who usually did a sports show at that time, preempted his show, and was covering the news about the collapse

At nine o'clock I also turned on the local TV news from St Louis to see if they had any video of what happened. I will never forget Charles Jaco (formally of CNN) who said that this bridge connected Minneapolis with St Paul. The thing is he was so wrong this bridge connects Minneapolis with Minneapolis. The I-94 Bridge connect Minneapolis with St Paul. You would think someone who used to work for a major News organization would know what he is talking about.

I know I listened to the coverage on the Internet until about 10:30 or 11pm that night. I also called in on a local radio station in St Louis because I felt the need to vent
.
The next day I got home from work in time to watch the nightly news from all three TV networks. It seemed surreal to me to see Katie, Brian and Charlie live from the Twin Cities as if it were 9/11 in New York City.

This bridge was so memorable to me, because when I was in High school. I went to a Treatment program at a hospital, that was located on the West bank of the University of Minnesota. My dad and my step mom felt I was not dealing with my mom's suicide very well. Ironically she committed suicide at the Bloomington Ferry Bridge just 20 miles away. I would cross over 35W every day and I could see the bridge in a distance when I was on the bus going to and from the hospital.

I just praise the Lord that only 13 people died. It is amazing that it only took 13 seconds for this bridge to collapse. Life can change in 13 seconds. The thing is are you ready for eternity with Jesus? You can get ready by accepting Jesus today.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Dan Blankenship
08/11/08
Good column. The only thing wrong, in my view, is that you waited too long to tie in a message to the bridge collapse. You should have made little comments here and there that tied in the life-changing events of the bridge collpasing to the life-changing decision to know Jesus sooner.

In other words, the ending felt rushed.

But other than that, very nice work.

May God bless.

Sincerely,
Dan Blankenship