There were two brothers who lived on adjoining farms. For 40 years they worked side by side. They helped each other when needed and shared each other’s equipment.
Then the long-standing relationship fell apart. It all began with a small misunderstanding, and it grew to be a major difference, until eventually there was an exchange of words, which was followed by weeks of silence.
One day there was a knock at John’s door. He opened it and there was a man standing there carrying a carpenters tool box. ‘I’m looking for a few day work’, he asked. The older brother said, ‘Yes, I do have job for you.’ He said, ‘Look across the field at that farm. That’s my younger brother. Last week there was a lovely meadow between us, and he took his bulldozer and dug to the river level and now there is a stream between us. He has done this to spite me, but I’m going to go one better, see that huge pile of wood by the side of the barn? I want you to build a 5-meter-high fence, so I won’t be able to see him or his farm anymore.’
The carpenter said, ‘I think I understand the situation. Show me where the nails are, and the post-hole digger is, and I will get to work.’
So he showed him where everything was. Then the older brother went off into town to get his weekly supplies and left him for the day.
The carpenter worked hard all day, measuring, sawing, nailing, and then in the early evening when the carpenter had just finished the job, the farmer returned home.
The farmers eyes were opened and his jaw dropped! There was no fence there at all. Instead there was a bridge, going from one side of the stream to the other! It was a fine piece of handy work. There was even a handrail. And as he looked his younger brother was walking up his side of the bridge, with his hand stretched out, and he said, ‘You are quite a guy, to build this bridge after all I’ve said and done.’ So, the older brother walked up his side and met him in the middle. Then he stretched out his hand, and he shook his hand.
At that point they both turned to see the carpenter lift his toolbox on his shoulder and start to walk away. The older brother said, ‘No, wait! I have other jobs that you can do.’ And the carpenter replied, ‘I would love to stay, but I have many more bridges to build.’
When we make a connection with God, who is know as Jesus the carpenter, He then becomes your master bridge builder because He specialises in building bridges that help rebuild broken relationships. Will he fix every relationship? No, because some of your old relationships are not good for you, they’re best left in the past. However, he will get to work on those that are right for you and meant to be part of your future. Sometimes he takes longer than we would like. But you need to trust him because he knows what he’s doing and if it’s meant to be it will happen. In time, He will rebuild it and make it happen!
Barry