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Building Life’s Bridges

Prepared : varoujAuthor: unknownMusic: Marc Antoine (Latin Quarter)

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Once upon a timeOnce upon a time two brothers who livedtwo brothers who lived

on adjoining farmson adjoining farms fell into conflict.fell into conflict.

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It was the first serious rift in It was the first serious rift in many years of farming side by many years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and side, sharing machinery, and

trading labor and goodstrading labor and goods as needed without a hitch.as needed without a hitch.

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Then the long friendship,Then the long friendship, brotherhood and teamworkbrotherhood and teamwork

fell apart one day.fell apart one day.

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It began with a small It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew misunderstanding and it grew

into a major difference,into a major difference, and finally it explodedand finally it exploded

into an exchange ofinto an exchange of bitter words of argumentbitter words of argument

followed by weeks of silence. followed by weeks of silence.

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One morning there was a knockOne morning there was a knock on elder brother John's door.on elder brother John's door.

He opened the door to findHe opened the door to find a man with a carpenter's a man with a carpenter's

toolbox standing before him. toolbox standing before him.

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"I'm looking for a few days work“"I'm looking for a few days work“Said the CarpenterSaid the Carpenter

"Perhaps you would have a few "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here for me thatsmall jobs here for me that

I Could help you?“I Could help you?“"Yes," said the John"Yes," said the John the older brother.the older brother.

"I do have a job for you. ”"I do have a job for you. ”

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Then John paused a momentThen John paused a moment and then pointed outand then pointed out

to the carpenterto the carpenter “ “Look across the creek at that farm”Look across the creek at that farm”

That's my neighbor,That's my neighbor, in fact, it's my younger brotherin fact, it's my younger brother

Bill’s farm.Bill’s farm.

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Last weekLast week there was an open field forthere was an open field for

grazing between our propertiesgrazing between our properties and he took his bulldozer toand he took his bulldozer to

the river levee and nowthe river levee and now there is a streamthere is a stream

dividing between us.dividing between us.

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Well, John said my brotherWell, John said my brother may have done thismay have done this

in an act of haste within an act of haste with anger & fury towards me.anger & fury towards me.

But I'll do himBut I'll do him one better said John.one better said John.

See that pile of lumber (wood) See that pile of lumber (wood) curing by the barn? curing by the barn?

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I want you to build meI want you to build me a fence that’s ten feet higha fence that’s ten feet high

so I won't need to seeso I won't need to see my brother’s place anymore.my brother’s place anymore.

This way it would coolThis way it would cool things down between us.things down between us.

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The carpenter looked atThe carpenter looked at John’s eyes but all he could see John’s eyes but all he could see was resentment & discontentwas resentment & discontent

in his heart towardsin his heart towards the brother.the brother.

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Carpenter then replied, I thinkCarpenter then replied, I think I understand the situation.I understand the situation.

Show me the nails and the post-Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I'll be able tohole digger and I'll be able to

do a job that pleases you.do a job that pleases you.

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The older brotherThe older brother had to go to town for supplies,had to go to town for supplies, so he helped the carpenter get so he helped the carpenter get

the materials from the barn the materials from the barn ready for the jobready for the job

and then he went away the rest and then he went away the rest of the day to his businessof the day to his business

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The carpenter worked hardThe carpenter worked hard all that day measuring,all that day measuring,

sawing, nailing. sawing, nailing. About sunset when John returned, About sunset when John returned, the carpenter had just finished his the carpenter had just finished his

job. The farmer's eyesjob. The farmer's eyes opened wide, in disbeliefopened wide, in disbelief

as his jaw dropped.as his jaw dropped.

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There was no fence there at all.There was no fence there at all.

Instead there was aInstead there was a bridge stretchingbridge stretching

from one side of the creekfrom one side of the creek to the other side!to the other side!

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It was a fine piece of workIt was a fine piece of work with handrails and all,with handrails and all,

as the neighbor,as the neighbor, his younger brother,his younger brother, was coming across,was coming across,

with his hand outstretched. with his hand outstretched.

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Younger Brother reached outYounger Brother reached out said to his older brothersaid to his older brother

you are quite a fellowyou are quite a fellow to build this bridgeto build this bridge after all that I haveafter all that I have

said and done.said and done.

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The two brothers stoodThe two brothers stood at each end of the bridge,at each end of the bridge,

and then they metand then they met in the middle, takingin the middle, taking

each other's handeach other's hand and greeting with a hug.and greeting with a hug.

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They turned to see theThey turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolboxcarpenter hoist his toolbox

on his shoulder.on his shoulder. "No, wait!"No, wait!

Stay a few days. I've a lot of Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you,“other projects for you,“ said the older brother. said the older brother.

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"I'd love to stay on,“"I'd love to stay on,“ replied the carpenter,replied the carpenter,

"but, I have many more"but, I have many more bridges to build.“bridges to build.“

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This is a Painting By This is a Painting By Thomas KinkadeThomas Kinkade

The Painter of LightThe Painter of Light““Bridge of Faith”Bridge of Faith”