Artist Spotlight
Kevin Burke, MSS/LSW, MEV
Pastoral Associate, Priests for Life
KEVIN BURKE is a licensed social worker, Co-Founder of Rachel’s Vineyard Ministries and a Pastoral Associate of Priests for Life. He is a graduate of The Bryn Mawr Graduate School of Social Work. Kevin’s presentations address the effects of abortion on men, couples and families and effective post abortion ministry for Clergy and Counselors.
The Rachel’s Vineyard ™ support group and retreat models are now offered in 49 states. The international outreach of Rachel’s Vineyard is now in over 70 countries. The Retreat manual has been translated into 22 languages with other translations in progress. We offer over 1000 retreats annually worldwide.
Kevin is the author of Tears of the Fisherman: Recovery for Men Wounded by Abortion and Sharing The Heart of Christ: Safe and Effective Post Abortion Ministry for Clergy and Counselors co- authored with Theresa Burke and Fr. Frank Pavone.
He has contributed and authored articles on the trauma and recovery after abortion. Kevin has been a guest on EWTN’s “At Home with Jim and Joy” and the “Gospel of Life” on Sky Angel Network. He is a regular guest on national radio shows.
Kevin formerly served as the administrator of Mother’s Home, a crisis pregnancy residence that provides housing, computer job training and programs for women and their children. Kevin also worked as a clinical social work supervisor for Catholic Social Services in Philadelphia.
Water and Bridges
By Craig Wiseman, Tim Nichols
I was young, so was she.
Life didn’t stay a mystery for very long…
We could do no wrong.
Then she called, said she was late.
So we took a little drive upstate an’ took care of that…
Yeah, just took care of that.
But now I’m longin’ back at some of my decisions,
Now that it’s much too late to change…
How a father could have held his son.
If I could undo what’s been done,
But I guess everyone is living,
With water and bridges.
Now my old man, he had it rough,
‘Cause like his Daddy, when he drank too much,
He’d get mean, an’ take it out on me.
So with angry words, I was gone.
I never even tried to go back home, the night he died.
Momma said he apologized.
Now I’m longin’ back on some of my decisions,
Now that it’s much too late to change…
How a father could have held his son.
If I could undo what’s been done,
But I guess everyone is living,
With water and bridges.
We could all go crazy from,
Things that only time can dull.
I guess that’s why everyone is given,
Water and bridges.
There is a lesser known song that tells the story of loss, one we rarely hear addressed in song:
Rogers told CNN at the time the song was released that “Water and Bridges” was not about his own personal experience, but was “really about choices you make when you’re young that you pay for when you’re old.”
“It’s an interesting — it starts off with a young couple who have an abortion,” Rogers explained. “And the guy says, ‘If a father could hold his son, I could undo what’s been done, but I guess everyone is living with water and bridges.’”
Not only are the lyrics poignant, but like many of Rogers tunes, its a great song.
Rogers sings:
We could all go crazy from…Things that only time can dull.
But time can’t really “dull” this loss. Its too deep and personal. There are some things we learn to leave in the past, and not look back. Abortion is not one of them.
As I wrote in my book on men and abortion, Tears of the Fisherman:
Abortion, rather than being an issue best left buried in the past, is one that is very much impacting men in the present. It is touching every aspect of their lives.
If you’re a man or woman touched by this song, and have been “living with water and bridges,” maybe its time to make peace with yourself, and with God. You can find someone to correspond or speak with, and healing programs here.
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