Thought Provoking

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They weren't wealthy, but 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 keys to the carpenter. "This is your house," he said, "my gift to you for your many years as a faithful employee."

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 a 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 accept 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 a house we have built none too well. If we had only realized, we could have done it so differently.

Think of yourself as a carpenter. Think of life as a 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 more day, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity. Without doubt, life is a do-it-yourself project.

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