| 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 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. 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.
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