The Bridge – For Bridge Builders and Peacemakers

Once upon a time, there were two brothers who lived on neighboring farms. For over 40 years, they had worked side by side, sharing everything tools, goods, labor, and even profits. But one day, a small misunderstanding turned into a serious argument. It was the first major conflict they had ever had, and after harsh words were exchanged, the two brothers stopped speaking. Weeks of silence followed. One morning, a carpenter knocked on the door of the older brother’s house. He carried a toolbox and said, “I’m looking for a few days’ work. Do you have any small jobs I could help with?” The older brother thought for a moment and replied, “Yes, I do. See that creek between my farm and my brother’s? He dug that just to spite me. I want you to build something so I don’t have to see him anymore. Maybe a tall fence.” The carpenter nodded and said, “I understand. I’ll make something you’ll be satisfied with.”

The older brother helped the carpenter gather materials and then left for town.The carpenter worked all day measuring, cutting, and hammering. As the sun set, the older brother returned, curious to see the work. To his surprise, there was no fence. Instead, the carpenter had built a beautiful bridge over the creek, complete with handrails and elegant details.

And just as he was taking it in, the younger brother appeared, walking across the bridge toward him, arms open and smiling. “You are truly my brother,” he said. “After all I did and said, you built this bridge between us. I’m sorry for everything.”

The two brothers embraced in reconciliation.Just as the carpenter was packing up, the older brother called out, “Please, stay! I have more work for you.”

But the carpenter smiled and said, “I’d love to, but I have many more bridges to build.”

Food for thought

• When conflict divides, who will be brave enough to build the bridge?
• Are you adding to division, or working toward connection?
• What if solving more conflicts starts not with being right, but with being open? 
• “Together we can resolve much more than we think—when we choose to build, not break.”