In my readings this week, I came across a story (author unknown) about two brothers who lived on adjoining farms. For close to 40 years they shared farm machinery, labor, and anything else that was needed. Trouble began when they had a disagreement over a very small matter. The misunderstanding grew into a major difference and finally exploded into bitterness and then silence.
One brother took his bull dozer and with the help of a nearby river levee made a creek dividing the two farms. The other brother would not be outdone. He hired a carpenter who needed work to build a fence at the creek. Leaving for the day, the brother went to town while the carpenter went to work. When the brother returned at the end of the day he was shocked to find that instead of building a fence, the carpenter had build a bridge across the creek. About that time, he saw his brother coming across the field. The carpenter stood silently by not knowing what was going to happen between these two brothers. As the creek builder approached the would-be fence builder, he held out his hand and with a smile said to his estranged brother, “You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I’ve said and done.”
The two brothers stood on the bridge taking each other’s hand in reconciliation. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox onto his shoulder. “No, don’t go! Wait,” said the would-be fence builder. “Both brothers said to the carpenter, “We have a lot of other projects for you.” “I’d love to stay on,” the carpenter said, “but, I have many more bridges to build.”
Building bridges is far better than building fences. How do I know? The Bible tells me so. And experience teaches that it really works.
In His Love,
Charles
