Once upon a time, two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into
conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side-by-side,
sharing machinery and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch.
Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small
misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it
exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.
One morning there was a knock on John’s door. He opened it to find a man
with a carpenter’s toolbox. “I’m looking for a few days’ work,” he said.
“Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with?
Could I help you?”
“Yes,” said the older brother. “I do have a job for you. Look across the
creek at that farm. That’s my neighbor. In fact, it’s my younger brother!
Last week there was a meadow between us. He recently took his bulldozer to
the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done
this to spite me, but I’ll do him one better. See that pile of lumber by the
barn? I want you to build me a fence, an 8-foot fence, so I won’t need to
see his place or his face anymore.”
The carpenter said, “I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails
and the post-hole digger and I’ll be able to do a job that pleases you.”
The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the
materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard
all that day — measuring, sawing and nailing. About sunset when the farmer
returned, the carpenter had just finished his job.
The farmer’s eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at
all.
It was a bridge. A bridge that stretched from one side of the creek to the
other! A fine piece of work, handrails and all! And the neighbor, his
younger brother, was coming toward them, his hand outstretched.
“You are a good man to build this bridge after all I’ve said and done.”
The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in
middle, taking each other’s hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his
toolbox onto his shoulder.
“No, wait! Stay a few days. I’ve a lot of other projects for you,” said the
older brother.
“I’d love to stay on,” the carpenter said, “but I have many more bridges to
build.”
~~
Dr Bob Griffin
[email protected] www.grif.net
“Jesus Knows Me, This I Love!”