The Carpenter Once upon a time, two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into a dispute. It was the first serious rift in over 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods, as needed. without a hitch. Then the long companionship fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding, and grew into a major differences of opinions, hurled insults and slamming doors...stone silences between the two men. And finally it exploded into more exchanges of bitter words, damage to each others properties and herds of animals, tit for tat attacks, followed by intermittent cold hostile silences. One morning there was a knock on Johns door. He opened it to find a very old man with a carpenters tool box standing there. Im looking for a few days of work, he said. Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with? Could I help you fix whats broken? Yes, actually there is-you could, said John to this small man he towered over. I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm yonder. Thats my neighbors farm. In fact its my little brothers farm. Last week this meadow between us...well he recently took his bulldozer to the river levee, and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this just to spite me, but Ill do him one better, with your help. See that pile of lumber over by my barn. I want you to build me a tall fence. An 8 foot high fence--so I wont need to see his place or his face anymore. The carpenter looked at everything and there was a great sadness in his eyes, but he said, I think I understand the situation. Show me where you keep your nails and the post hole digger and Ill be able to do the job that pleases you. The older brother had to go to town, after the showing the man where things were and where he wanted the fence to start and end. He helped the carpenter get the materials ready and helped haul the lumber to the spot and then he took off for the day. The carpenter worked hard all day long-measuring, sawing, nailing and had just finished his job when the older farmer returned. The older brother eyes opened wide and his jaw dropped. There was no fence erected there at all. It was a bridge- a very handsome and well made bridge...a bridge that stretched from one side of the wide creek to the other! A fine piece of workmanship with hand hewn nails instead of metal ones, with hand rails and two steps on each side to walk up onto the bridge and down on the other side of the bridge. And, the neighbor, his younger brother who came out, came towards the bridges, was astounded, with tears in his eyes. His out-stretched hand, shook first the hand of the carpenter and said You are quite the fellow to build this beautiful bridge, especially after all I have said and done, looking at his brother on the other side of the creek. The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge and then they met in the middle, taking each others hand in a tight grip of love and forgiveness. They turned to see the carpenter grinning, hoist his tool box onto his shoulder and start to walk away. NO WAIT, they both shouted at the same time. Stay a few days. Ive a lot of other jobs for you they both said, in turns. Id love to stay on, he said, but I have many more people to help and a lot more bridges to build. I have so many people yet to help. But just remember this Boys; God wont ask you why or over what tore you two apart....hell only asks why you let it tear you apart. God wont ask you who threw the first punch or even if you won the fight...hell only ask you Was it worth it to lose your brothers love and wound his soul. God wont ask who threw the first curse or who walked away or who harmed the other first...hell ask why did you let it almost let it ruin your lives. God wont ask who of you two got blinded by your rage first...but hell ask why didnt you forgive, have compassion, seek understanding with each other. Then the carpenter walked away to the west, towards the forest and the sunset that surrounded the farms, whistling a tune that faded into the haze covering the earth with night dew. Like to say the brothers never had complete peace, but they never had a war again. Author Unknown.
Posted on: Sun, 29 Jun 2014 04:40:29 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015