25 Bridges or Fences?



Bridges or Fences?

Once upon a time, two brothers lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in forty years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and helping each other as needed. 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’ works," he said. "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there. Could I help you?" 

"Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm.  That is my brother's farm. Last week we had a meadow between us he has changed the course of the river and so now we have a river. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll go him one better. See that pile of wood by the barn? I want you to build me a fence a very high fence, so I won't need to see his place anymore." 

The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation I will see what I can do. The older brother left him to it.

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 stretching from one side of the river to the other! His younger brother was coming across, his hand outstretched. " After all, I've said and done, you have done this." 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 and get ready to leave. Can you stay longer? "I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, " but I have many more bridges to build." What will we build a bridge or a fence?




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