Saturday, August 29, 2009

Perspective: Tale of the Carpenter

above photo used with permission:

I am not sure where I got this story from originally. It was in
some papers/files I was clearing out. It makes me wonder what
the world would be like it we took on everything as if we
"owned" it.

What does it have you consider?

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An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-
contractor of his plans to leave the house building business
and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended
family.

He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could
get by. The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and
asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor.
The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart
was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used
inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.

When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to
inspect the house, the contractor handed the front-door key to
the carpenter. "This is your house," he said, "my gift to you."

What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was
building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.
Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well.

So it is with us. We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting
rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At
important points we do not give the job our best effort. Then
with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find
that we are now living in the house we have built. If we had
realized that we would have done it differently.

Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house. Each
day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely.
It is the only life you will ever build. Even if you live it for only one
day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity.
The plaque on the wall says, "Life is a do-it-yourself project." Your
life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices
you make today.

Author Unknown,
but appreciated
 

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