GOD WON'T ASK...

[NY Bearhunter]

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, 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 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."

Remember This...
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.

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, but He'll ask how many you helped to clothe.

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 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 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.

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

[seapower]

Thank's, kinda needed that one today! Frank

[Big Fish Billy]

Same here.......

[worldcat lemon]

Nothing like building bridges!

Appreciated God's perspective!

[Big Fish Billy]

Out of wood though, I don't know how long it will last.......

[seapower]

If HE built it, it'll last forever. Atleast that's what I'm counting on! Frank

[longfisher]

Took the boy to the barber shop yesterday for the last haircut I'm ever going to buy for him. He's off to college by Sunday. Needed a cut too so selected one of the lady barbers and took up the chair.

Lady barber next to me was new. I'd never seen her before. And, she was cutting the hair of very old fellow. It was funny seeing the broom-boy sweep up all the dark colored hair beneath most chairs and then to add the silvery locks of that fellow to them as he passed the chair of the old man.

Old fellow seemed confused and almost everyone in the shop noticed, especially me as I was sitting right next to him. Said he came into the barber shop for a cut but didn't remember how he got there and didn't know how to get home, to the Tomball, TX retirement home. The new lady barber humored him at first, perhaps she thought he was kidding. In a while, we all realized that he wasn't...he needed directions to get back to the retirement home.

Lady barber finished up his cut, took his money and rang him up but asked that he take a seat again in the barber chair. She asked if anyone knew of the Tomball Retirement Center and no one in the shop at the time seemed to know.

There were lots of customers in the shop and the other barbers were deliberately ignoring the confused old man and the new barber asking for help with directions. They were busy ushering new customers to their chairs. The shop works on a split of each cut, so, they were busy getting paid while the new barber was "otherwise engaged".

Anyway, ignoring her loss of business and income she went to her car and got her navigation out of it with a little plug in charger. She plugged the thing in where she usually plugged in the clippers and used the voice search to locate the retirement center. Then she asked the system for direction and jotted them down for the old guy. Then she patiently explained them to the old guy, unfortunately, several times before she took his hand and led him to the door of his car and helped him in while repeatedly explaining the directions to him.

The old man left the parking lot and when she returned to the shop all the customers who'd come in were already being served. She sighed heavily and then sat down in the chair for what turned out to be long spell of no customers. Obviously, she realized that her kindness had cost her customers and fee splits.

When my cut was done I got up and asked her name. It was Kim. I went to the register to pay for my own cut and for the boy's but also asked the shop owner to come to the register because I had a complaint.

When he got to the register I told him my complaint was that in this country today it's the soulless and the crooks and the thieves and the rotten politicians and their benefactors who always seemed to get rewarded rather than people of good character and giving hearts. He seemed puzzled.

Then I asked him how much the two cuts for me and the boy would be with a $2 tip for both barbers who'd cut our hair. It came to $30 even. I wrote the check for $50 and when I handed it to him he said, "You wrote the wrong amount. Didn't you hear me say it was only $30?"

I told him yes I did. Then I spoke Kim's name loudly enough that she could hear me from her spot sitting in her chair without a customer about halfway down the line of barbers and also loud enough for the other barbers and all the customers to hear me.

When she and all the rest turned to listen to me I told the shop owner that the extra $20 was for Kim as she'd lost business trying to help an old man find his way home. I told her that this tip was because I wanted that kind of warm-heartedness to be rewarded that day because mostly it wasn't rewarded, but rather, most often punished anymore in this country.

All the customers broke out in applause. Not applause for me. But for Kim. I'm sure it made her day.

Carpenters are not the only godlike, souldfull rather than soulless entities that abound. There are also some rare lady barbers.

I'm certain she isn't a Republican. Being soulless and hateful and greedy and having a punitive comtempt for those like that old man who are less fortunate is almost a pre-requisite for belonging to that party anymore. That's why I left that party.

And, the incident described above clinches for me why I left. I care about old feeble farts like that guy. I don't think that party or its members care about anyone but themselves.

LF

[seapower]

Somehow I knew you would respond to this harmless post with your usual distaste. I have put you on my "ignore" list for the last while, somehow I just had to look to see if you may have changed your way's. Well at least I can say that the ignore button has it's place, I will continue to use it in your case. I must say you have the priveledge of being the only one on here that it's been used on. I can understand your different point's of view, but your disrespect and alway's throwing around the politcal thing has just about run it's course with me.

At one point I really thought that you and I could actually have a civil face to face. But I will tell you without any reservation, I'm over it. I know it'll be because of some intellect I'm lacking. Look around you Sir, take your family issue's for example (that you so foolishly brought before us on here), lack of true friend's, etc..... It's not to late, just quit being an idiot! No need to reply, I have you on ignore, and I'll be using it. If you don't understand this reply, just keep reading it hopefully it'll sink in. Respectfully, Frank

[longfisher]

I'm sure I'll miss ya, Frank.

NOT!

LF