What does it mean to Bridge a Gap? Have you ever met two groups of people that are almost at opposite ends of the spectrum that have been able to come together and bridge a gap? I have... Not only have I met them, but I have had the privilege to participate in the bridging of the gap and I have had the privilege to see the great changes that both groups have wrought through that bridging.
You may ask yourself, what does he mean by that? I will explain. I work and have worked with a group of inmates at a prison in New York State. They have had the opportunity to meet with students from Vassar College for three hours on a Friday, every Friday for the spring and fall semesters for seven years now.
Both groups have met faithfully every Friday and broken barriers, shared concepts, thoughts(deep and light), among other things, and I have watched both groups grow far beyond steel bars and concrete halls of knowledge. My life, as well as theirs, has been enriched beyond words through this bridging of gaps. Words cannot express the changes I have seen in inmates and Vassar students alike. What changes, you ask?
I will endeavor to explain. I have seen inmates, several, express ideas when they barely talked before. I have seen inmates stand up in front of a group and share deep thoughts, stories, and poetry that bared their souls, to name a few.
I have seen Vassar students, several, express ideas to a group of people that they thought they'd never meet, share deep thoughts with a group of people that they thought may have never really thought about anything or anyone and bared their souls with those same people through story and poetry, song and musical instrument.
I have seen barriers broken, gaps healed and bridges mended. All this from the interaction of two groups of people almost at opposite ends of the spectrum. Their lives have been changed forever and ever for the good of mankind. No one will ever be able to take that away from them.
No matter what happens in the future, those things will never change and I, for one, am a better person for that. I have been privileged to know both of these groups of people and I am a better person for that. I will continue to bridge gaps like these as long as I'm able because I know what it means to Bridge the Gap. Thank you and may God bless.
