Written by Mythbuster.

In past times when a drawbridge keeper was needed to act as a ‘switchman’ for trains that that crossed above large rivers, one truly awful incident stands out.

Most of the time, bridges were kept in a position to let ships pass freely in the water but at certain times of day, trains also had to travel and cross the river, using the drawbridge. The switchman’s job was to make sure to extend the bridge for the train at certain times, then get the drawbridge back out of the way again so that water vehicles could travel as normal.

One day, a switchman noted the approach of the train and began to operate the appropriate controls to lock the drawbridge into place. He watched the train headlights get closer, and double-checked the drawbridge, only to notice that the locking mechanisms weren’t actually locking like they should! If these were not locked properly when the train began to cross the river, it would jump the track and crash far down below, into the river.

He noted that, according to his schedule, the particular train in question happened to be a passenger train, and this further heightened his dilemma.

Luckily, the drawbridge keeper had been trained for emergency situations, so he knew he could simply dash from the control room and to a control box nearby, to hold a specific lever into place and lock the drawbridge manually. He’d noticed the flawed lock in time, so he dashed outside to manually lock the drawbridge, relieved that he’d been taught this safety tactic.

With the level held firm, the train neared and the rumbling of engine and wheels on the track grew, and the switchman knew he should brace himself soon for the train.

Just then, he heard a sound which made his blood run cold!

“Daddy…Daddy where are you?”

It was his 5 year old son, crossing part of the tracks to come find him.

“Run, son – RUN!!!” the father shouted

But the train was fast approaching and the father’s words were caught up in the thunder of the train’s noise.

He released the lever for a moment, in order to run and grab his son – but realized that the train was approaching with much greater speed than he had anticipated. He’d never be fast enough to run to grab his son, and then make it back in time to hold the drawbridge lever in place again before the train reached the river crossing! If he didn’t hold the lever, all the passengers on the oncoming train would crash into the river, most likely, all would die from a plunge of that distance overhead to the river below.

With an agonizing cry, he grasped the lever as the train sped forward.

Nobody aboard the train ever noticed the tiny, broken body flung violently and mercilessly into the river by the train. Nobody ever hear the dreaded splash of the young body plunging into the river. Nobody was ever aware of the sobbing man, still hanging on to the lever long minutes after the train was gone and out of sight.

Nobody saw the man as he walked home, more slowly and dejectedly than ever before, to tell his wife how their son died.

If you can comprehend, at all, this man’s loss and heart, maybe you can begin to understand the feelings of Our Father in Heaven when he sacrificed His only Son in order to bridge the gap between us and eternal life.

I just want to share this story to everyone, it features scenes from the short film “Most”,  the story of a bridge operator who is forced to choose between the life of the son he loves dearly and a train filled with people. Most received an Academy Award Nomination for Best Live-Action Short Film.

I was touched upon seeing the video clip about a father who chose to sacrifice his own child just to save the life of many people.  Take note that those people who were saved were ones, cheater, liar, etc.) Let us remember that our God also chose to sacrifice his only begotten son just to save us. The father in the video clip has the right decision for people who were saved still have the chance to change and glorify God for another life given to them. On the other hand, the child who died will surely be in God’s side for his innocence. The father just followed what our father God have done to us. Let’s glorify him for his unconditional love to us.

Here is that video clip. Take some time to watch it. It will touch your heart.

Picture taken from: Flicker