On the Collapse of the Key Bridge
Timely words from Francis Scott Key, in light of the collapse of the Key Bridge.
“Crazy sad news in Baltimore this morning”
March 26, 2024
It was before dawn this morning, and, like the sun, my mind was still below the horizon. A twilight blend of sleep, half-prayed prayers, and thoughts of the coming day. At 5:38, my phone chimed, and I rolled over to see who would be texting at that hour.
It was my brother Enoch, in Florida, with three short messages that my sluggish mind could not comprehend. His first words read, “Crazy sad news in Baltimore this morning. Made me think of you right away with your knowledge of Key.”
Below his words I saw a link to CNN and an image of Donald Trump. The link said only, “Breaking News.”
Then, more words from my brother: “Hard to believe my eyes.”
What could these jumbled words mean? I couldn’t imagine anything happening in Baltimore that could explain them. I mean, I was born there, and grew up in the area, but I have no remaining ties to the city. So what “crazy sad news” was worth a text? And what did Donald Trump have to do with it?
The confusion prompted me to open the link and see what the news was all about. And that is when I saw, not Donald Trump, but a dimly-lit and silent video of a bridge collapsing into the water. It seemed surreal, but now I was awake.
By now, we all know about the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, an iconic symbol of Baltimore, a name heard on a thousand daily traffic reports, a bridge I’d crossed many times.
Francis Scott Key and “his bridge”
Of course, we were all shocked by the news, but, as indicated by Enoch’s words, this touches me especially closely. Twenty years ago, I began to research the life of Francis Scott Key, a Christian who loved his God and loved his country. Since then, I’ve come to treasure his Christian witness and how full of biblical counsel his letters were.
It was Key’s love for his country and an old family friend that had, in September 1814, placed him on a ship that was moored not far from today’s now-ruined bridge. It was from that ship that he watched “bombs bursting in air” and composed what is now our National Anthem.
Last July, on a return flight from Minneapolis, I was blessed to fly over the Key Bridge as the sun was going down. Somehow, it made me feel like I was home, even though I left Maryland 20 years ago. The lighting was perfect, I was in the window seat, and the plane banked just right to catch the bridge with my camera.
How could I have known how significant that picture would become?
July 2023, homeward bound. My last view of the Key Bridge.
“Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish”
The collapse of the bridge this morning was a tragedy, and yet it is no different than things that have happened throughout history. When I heard the news, I was reminded of how Jesus spoke of 18 people “on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them” (Luke 13:4). His message was that they were no more sinful nor righteous than those who survived, yet, for them, death came without warning.
He used that tragedy to call those still alive to repentance: “unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
Events like what happened this morning remind us how things which seem so unchangeable are more fragile than we realize. Buildings collapse, ships sink, bridges fall.
Key’s counsel to his children
In March 1812, three months before the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key was in southern Maryland. As a lawyer, he was often on the road, making the rounds of county courts. When they were in session, he was away from home. We do not know what prompted it, but on March 20, at the age of 33, he updated his will and wrote his wife to let her know he didn’t expect to live long. (As it turned out, he had another 30 years.)
Along with that letter, he included one for his many children, to be given them in the event of his death. His words speak to Christians of every age.
My Dear Children:
When this letter will be read by you, your father will be gone to where you will no longer be able to see him nor to hear him. I am therefore writing to you to remind you then (when I can no longer speak to you) of that which, above everything, it is important and essential you should never forget.
O my children, you, too, will die, you also will all stand before God! You have read your Bible: how God made us, what he requires of us, how Christ died for us, how we must pray and strive to do everything right and shun everything wrong. I have endeavoured to instruct you. Never forget this, my dear children, and remember that we cannot serve and please God of ourselves, but we must pray to Him to help us for Christ's sake.
"Watch and pray, and it shall be given unto you."
Think of death; when you think of me, think of death, and remember, that after death is happiness or misery forever and ever. O let us all strive to meet in happiness. Let us pray that not one of us may be lost.
Remember that temptations will surround you, that you must "Watch and pray," that if you are careless you will be lost. Read your Bibles every morning and evening. Never neglect private prayers, both morning and evening, and throughout the day strive to think of God often and breathe a sincere supplication to Him for all things.
Join, also, in family prayers—sometimes, instead of your mother, one of you (by turns) should read prayers. Go regularly to church, plainly drest, and behave reverently. Do all possible good to all—to your mother, to each other, to all your relatives, to the poor and everybody within your reach. Do not love or indulge yourselves; learn and practice self-denial, and do everything for God's sake, and consider yourselves always in His service.
Remember that you do not belong to yourselves. Christ has bought you, and His precious blood was your price.
O my children! shall we all meet in Heaven? Pray not only each for himself, but all of you for all, that God may bless you and bring you together to His blessed presence and kingdom.
So has prayed, and I hope will be able to pray with his dying breath,
Yr father,
F. S. Key
P. S. —Each of my children will take a copy of this letter, and keep it and read it at least once a year.
Taking it home
On this day, when a bridge collapse reminds us of the uncertainty of life, may we resolve to live like Key and to convey his message to the loved ones in our lives.
