The Bridge
Once upon a time two brothers who lived on neighboring farms fell into conflict.
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?”
“Yes,” said the elder 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’s. Last week there was a meadow between us, but he took his bulldozer to the river levee, and now there is a creek between us. 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 face any more.”
The carpenter said, “I think I understand the situation. I’ll be able to do a job that pleases you.” From liuxuepaper.com
The elder brother had to go to town on business, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready, and then he was off. About sunset when John returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. John’s eyes opened wide. 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, then embracing each other.
They turned to see the carpenter raise his toolbox on his shoulder. “No, wait! Stay a few days. I’ve a lot of other projects for you,” said John. “I’d love to stay on.” The carpenter said, “but I have many more bridges to build.”
桥
从前有兄弟二人，生活在相领的农场中，他们之间发生了冲突。
一天早上，有人敲约翰的门。他打开门，发现外边站着一位背着木工箱的人。
“我想找几天活干，”他说。“你这里是否有些零活需要我做？”
“是的，”作为兄长的约翰说。“我的确有件活让你做。你看小溪那边的农场。那是我的邻居，其实就是我弟弟的农场。上周我们之间还有一片牧场，但他用推土机把河堤推掉了，如今横在我们面前的是一条小溪。看到畜舍旁边的那堆木材了吗？我想让你为我修建一道篱笆——一道8英尺高的篱笆——这样我就用不着看他的脸色了。”
木匠说，“我明白了。我的活保证让您满意。”
哥哥有事必须去镇上，因此他帮木匠备好料后就走了。大约在太阳落山的时候约翰回来了，木匠也刚刚干完活。约翰的眼睛睁得大大的。那根本没有篱笆。
有一座桥——一座横跨小溪的桥！这是一座非常完美的桥，栏杆和所有的一切都很精美，那位邻居，也就是他弟弟，正走过来，并向前伸出手。
“在我说了过头的话和做了过头的事之后，你这样做太令我感动了。”兄弟二人分别站在桥的两端，然后他们在桥中间相遇了，握住对方的手，然后拥抱在一起。
他们转过身，看到木匠把他的木工箱扛到了肩膀上。“不，等一下！请再呆几天。我还有很多其它活儿需要你做，”约翰说。“我很想呆下去，”木匠说，“但还有更多的桥等着我去修建呢。”
让“宽恕的风”把仇恨抹去
两个朋友结伴穿越沙漠，旅途中二人突然吵了起来，其中一个掴了对方一记耳光。被打的人感到自己受了伤害，但什么也没有说，只是在沙地上写下了这样一句话：“今天我最好的朋友掴了我耳光。他们继续前行，看见到处绿洲，他们正打算在那里洗澡时，刚才被打的人不小心陷入了泥潭，开始深陷，他的朋友救了他.
等他从几近淹死的边缘苏醒过来后，他在石头上刻下：“今天我最好的朋友救了我的命。”他的朋友问：“为什么我伤你之后，你在沙子上写字，现在却把字刻在石头上？” 他回答道：“当有人伤害了我们，我们应该把它写进沙里，宽恕的风会把仇恨抹去。而当有人为我们做了好事，我们应当把它刻在石头上，没有风可以将它抹去。”
