BUILD BRIDGES NOT FENCES
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 labour 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 neighbour, in fact, it's my younger brother.
Last week there was a meadow between us and he 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 go 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, 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
stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work
handrails and all -- and the neighbour, his younger brother, was coming across,
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 on 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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