| 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 that I could help with?"
"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, with 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. |