by Lynn Heatley.  Intro:  I was in an email conversation a few months back with someone from the ReconciliationSchool (www.gracebridge.org). We talked quite a bit about the nature of one who identifies themselves with what I have come to term as the “bridge tribe”. I actually got that understanding through a time of prayer with the Lord. Fawn has encouraged me to expand a bit more on what I have shared, so here it is. I hope that it encourages you and perhaps gives you a bit more understanding.

The Bridge Tribe

An area that is common to so many of us who are a part of the Reconciliation School is a call to interact and serve the whole body of Christ in it’s many wonderful diversities.  I have termed this people group as being a part of the “bridge tribe.” This term came as a revelation for me as I never quite felt like I fully fit in in most places. As I asked the Lord about it, He began to unfold the revelation of a bridge. He said that a bridge is never anchored only in one area…by nature, a bridge is spanning across a divided area and is anchored into at least 2 different areas. Because of this, a bridge person might never feel totally at home in only one area…..it always is looking for the other area that is needed to anchor into. How this has looked for me in past situations has been, for instance,when I am around highly charismatic members of the body…..although I enjoy this, there is a huge part of me that aches for more of the word, or more order, etc. When I am around the evangelical camp, I am longing for more of the Spirit to be manifested. When I am around a mostly white group of people, I am longing for people of color. When I am around all pastors, I am longing for other types of leadership (marketplace people who bring a whole different style of leadership…..government leaders, indigenous leaders, etc). So…..you get my point. While most can enjoy their particular island of focus that they are called to, a bridge person longs to be connected to the other islands at the same time and feels unbalanced if they are not. This sometimes can be viewed by others as being a “betrayer” for those who feel that unless you are a part of only one island, than one is not being loyal or in order or whatever other terminology one comes up with. Our God is so much bigger than all of that and I am grateful that I have finally landed in a place of self-grace and acceptance in this area.

Ambassadors

This is another term that I have done an extensive study on after many times of trying to understand what geographical sphere I am assigned to (and being very frustrated at not being able to figure it out). The Lord began to unfold understanding about being an ambassador and that by nature and calling, an ambassador frequently does not have “land assignments” but they are considered “extraterritorial” which essentially means “located outside territorial boundaries”. This understanding has assisted me in many areas as I tend to be called to a very mobile type of ministry.

Systems vs Parts

One final analogy that is closer to my own field of training as a Registered Nurse is knowing how the body functions. As a nurse, I understand how all the parts of the body are needed to work together in order for overall physical health and harmony (see 1 Cor 12 for the spiritual application). As one who is a part of the medical community, I understand that there are individual body organs that serve a very specific purpose (heart, lung, kidney, liver….etc) and that there are also systems that serve the whole body (called systemic functions)…..areas like the circulatory system, the nervous system, the lymphatic system, etc. all fall under this category. So, on a practical note, I believe some in the body of Christ are called to a very specific function and others are called to work with all the parts in a more generalized way. I call this later group “systems people”.   They function best when they are interacting and encouraging all of the parts of the body of Christ.

This is alot of words to describe what most of you probably already know. What you are getting in the above writings has taken me many years of prayer and ponderings before the Lord to understand and to accept. But, I am thankful that God has helped me to be really ok with who He has made me to be (a systems person who loves the whole body of Christ and sees value in all the individual parts and systems). I do find it absolutely endearing to be around others who are a part of the “bridge tribe” (or ambassadors or those who relate to all the body in a “systemic kind of way”) because there is just a knowing among us that I rarely find anywhere else….I guess that is why the School of Reconciliation has been a good landing place for me…..they all feel like they are my people. I hope and pray that you may have better understanding and grace for those who might be called to a broader application of ministry.

In closing, I would like to add that it is not always easy in being a bridge; there are times where it seems much easier if one was called to a singular area and the occasional feelings of loneliness can be rather intense.  But, I would say that the privilege of seeing and experiencing the beauty and wisdom of the fullness of the body of Christ brings an exceptional and ongoing joy and steadfastness that causes the disappointments to pale in comparison.

Thanks for listening, may we all find our peace (and piece) in God and also where He has individually called us.

May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21