The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could
build one last 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 did not
care anymore, and resorted to shoddy workmanship, used inferior materials,
and was too lazy to correct mistakes. "It doesn't matter anyway," he
thought. 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 for all those good years of
service you've given me."
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 times, 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 earlier, we would have done things
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.
I once saw a plaque on a wall that says,
"Life is a do-it-yourself project."
Who could say it more clearly? Your life today is the result of your
attitudes and choices in the past. More importantly, your life tomorrow
will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today.
alx