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 at 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! A few weeks ago 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 quite a fellow 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 the middle, taking each other’s =
hand, and embraced.
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!"