The Story of The Carpenter
By deeeky
@deeeky (3667)
Edinburgh, Scotland
March 16, 2008 8:22am CST
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, "[M]y 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, 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."
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 the choices you make today.
Have a great life fom Deeeky.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
16 Mar 08
Wow, that is a lot to think about. When I saw the title, I thought this was just going to be a stupid joke. I was happy to see that there was much more to it than that. I try to make a difference in everything I do. It doesn't always turn out the way I plan, but if I am able to help just one person today, it will have been worth the effort. Keep up the good work!!!
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
16 Mar 08
You are right about that. You are very intelligent when it comes to thinking about these thing. Make sure you always remember that so you will always succeed. Have a great week!!!
@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
17 Mar 08
Thanks Deeeky. What awesome wisdom to impart to us. Makes one really think about how we are living our lives.
@Darkwing (21583)
•
16 Mar 08
The key phrase here, I think, is "Do unto others as you would do unto yourself." I think if you respect yourself enough, then you would want to give this final building job your best shot in providing the best workmanship you can, on this final request.
In other words, your friends, especially the ones who have supported you so well, are worthy of whatever you would wish for yourself. If you have the skills to provide them with the best, then you should do so, lest the tables turn, as in this story, to detail where you have gone wrong with your friends. It's all too easy to reject the desires of others in order to set yourself free, but life is so much more enjoyable when you're happy with the way you are, and what you can do to help others achieve the freedom you so long for.
Hence, I would have given this job my best shot, in the hope that it would make somebody else happy, before I took time out to relax and find my freedom.
A good point, my dear friend. Brightest Blessings. x
