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1. Building Life’s Bridges Prepared : varouj Author: unknown Music: Marc Antoine (Latin Quarter)

2. Once upon a time two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict.

3. It was the first serious rift in many years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch.

4. Then the long friendship, brotherhood and teamwork fell apart one day.

5. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words of argument followed by weeks of silence.

6. One morning there was a knock on elder brother John's door. He opened the door to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox standing before him.

7. "I'm looking for a few days work“ Said the Carpenter "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here for me that I Could help you?“ "Yes," said the John the older brother. "I do have a job for you. ”

8. Then John paused a moment and then pointed out to the carpenter “ Look across the creek at that farm” That's my neighbor, in fact, it's my younger brother Bill’s farm.

9. Last week there was an open field for grazing between our properties and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a stream dividing between us.

10. Well, John said my brother may have done this in an act of haste with anger & fury towards me. But I'll do him one better said John. See that pile of lumber (wood) curing by the barn?

11. I want you to build me a fence that’s ten feet high so I won't need to see my brother’s place anymore. This way it would cool things down between us.

12. The carpenter looked at John’s eyes but all he could see was resentment & discontent in his heart towards the brother.

13. Carpenter then replied, 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.

14. The older brother had to go to town for supplies, so he helped the carpenter get the materials from the barn ready for the job and then he went away the rest of the day to his business

15. The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing. About sunset when John returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer's eyes opened wide, in disbelief as his jaw dropped.

16. There was no fence there at all. Instead there was a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other side!

17. It was a fine piece of work with handrails and all, as the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming across, with his hand outstretched.

18. Younger Brother reached out said to his older brother you are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all that I have said and done.

19. The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other's hand and greeting with a hug.

20. 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.

21. "I'd love to stay on,“ replied the carpenter, "but, I have many more bridges to build.“

22. This is a Painting By Thomas Kinkade The Painter of Light “ Bridge of Faith”