> > 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. 

> > 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 work" he said. "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs
> here and there I could help with? Could I help you?" 
> > "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. 

> > 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."
> > 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."

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