The Carpenter


         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 only he had 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 then acting, willing to put up less than the best.   At important points we don't 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 in it only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity. 

     Who could say it more clearly?  Your life today is the result of your attitudes and choices in the past. Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and choices you make today.


author unknown
contributed by a good friend

BACKTO INSIGHTS

Search TYSK

TYSK eagle
www.tysknews.com

News Depts Articles Library
Lite Stuff Links Credits Home

 

 

17 June 1999