THE CARPENTER

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.
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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.
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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.
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"Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and
there I could help with? Could I help you?"
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"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.
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"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."
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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."
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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.
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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 neighbor, 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."
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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.
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"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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REMEMBER THIS:
God won't ask what kind of car you drove; He'll ask
how many people you drove who didn't have
transportation.
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God won't ask the square footage of your house; He'll
ask how many people you welcomed into your home.
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God won't ask about the clothes you had in your
closet; He'll ask how many you helped to clothe .
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God won't ask about your social status; He will ask
what kind of class you displayed.
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God won't ask how many material possessions you had; He'll ask if they
dictated your life.
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God won't ask what your highest salary was; He'll ask
if you compromised your character to obtain it.
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God won't ask how much overtime you worked; He'll ask if your overtime
work was for yourself or for your
family.
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God won't ask how many promotions you received; He'll ask how you
promoted others.
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God won't ask what your job title was; He'll ask if
you performed your job to the best of your ability.
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God won't ask what you did to help yourself; He'll ask
what you did to help others.
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God won't ask how many friends you had; He'll ask how many people to
whom you were a friend.
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God won't ask what you did to protect your rights;
He'll ask what you did to protect the rights of others.
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God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived; He'll
ask how you treated your neighbors.
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God won't ask about the color of your skin; He'll ask
about the content of your character.
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God won't ask how many times your deeds matched your words; He'll ask
how many times they didn't.
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God won't ask why it took you so long to seek Salvation; He'll lovingly
take you to your mansion in
heaven, and not to the gates of Hell.