In the Diehard series of films, I was always wondering throughout if there was any building, street, bridge, car or aircraft that would survive the movie intact. There usually wasn’t and frankly that never disappointed me because the series star John McClane got the bad guys and was not likely to pass those same ways again.
The same cannot be said for us in our everyday lives. We’re not action heroes so every person, relationship or organization that we push through with disregard in pursuit of some type of gain is a bridge burned. The paths we take in life are usually not exclusively one-way streets, so it’s entirely possible that those we’ve trampled upon to get away or get ahead will re-enter our lives someday in one way or another.
Crossing a bridge with dignity and respect allows us to move forward with less regret and with our heads held high; burning it behind us is vengeful and leaves us with an unenviable reputation.
