Life Designer, April 2015
MOTIVATIONAL STORIES...
BUILDING BRIDGES
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.
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 and he 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 go him one better. See that pile of
lumber curing by the barn? I want you to build me a fence an 8-foot fence - so I won't need to see his place anymore.
Cool him down, anyhow."
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 for supplies, 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,
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 stretching
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 across, 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 on 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."
18
bumblebee cannot fly. But the bumblebee doesn't know
that and it keeps flying.
When you don't know
your limitations, you go
out and surprise yourself.
In hindsight, you wonder
if you had any limitations.
The only limitations a
person has are those that
are self-imposed. Don't
let education put
limitations on you.
MEANINGLESS GOALS
A farmer had a dog who used to sit by the roadside waiting
for vehicles to come around. As soon as one came he would
run down the road, barking and trying to overtake it. One
day a neighbor asked the farmer "Do you think your dog is
ever going to catch a car?" The farmer replied, "That is not
what bothers me. What bothers me is what he would do if
he ever caught one." Many people in life behave like that
dog who is pursuing meaningless goals.
Life is hard by the yard,
but by the inch,
it's a cinch.
--Gean Gordon
A POUND OF BUTTER
There was a farmer who sold a pound of butter to the
baker. One day the baker decided to weigh the butter to
see if he was getting a pound and he found that he was not.
This angered him and he took the farmer to court. The
judge asked the farmer if he was using any measure. The
farmer replied, amou ȁ!