[FASTLARRY]

Subject: 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.
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. He recently 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 do 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 that stretched from one side of the creek
to the other! A fine piece of work, with handrails, and all!

And, the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming toward them, 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 onto 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. Just remember this...

1. God won't ask what kind of car you drove, but He'll ask how many people
you helped get where they needed to go.

2. God won't ask the square footage of your house, but He'll ask how many
people you welcomed into your home.

3. God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet, but He'll ask how
many you helped to clothe.

4. God won't ask how many friends you had, but He'll ask how many people to
whom you were a friend.

5. God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived, but He'll ask how you
treated your neighbors.

6. God won't ask about the color of your skin, but He'll ask about the
content of your character.

7. God won't ask how many people you forwarded this to, but He'll ask why
you hesitated to pass it on to your friends.