If You Were the Carpenter

If You Were the Carpenter

A story written by an unknown author goes like this:

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his contractor employer of his plans to leave the house-building business and finally spend more time with his wife and family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire.

The contractor was sorry to see this good worker go, but asked if he would build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter agreed, 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. Even though no one else had noticed, 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 – my gift to you,” he said.

What a sad twist at the end, but there’s a lesson here! Life is no different than a carpenter’s work. Each of us is given lumber, a hammer, some nails, and a saw – but no instructions or blueprint for our lives. If we ignore a bent nail here, a split board there, and a wall out of plumb, we may find ourselves living in a ramshackle cabin where a beautiful home might have stood–we step back for a good look and sadly recognize that we were the carpenter in charge.

Life is your most important DIY project! Use the right tools. Get the education you need. Learn from a master. Take no shortcuts. Finish it with your finest touch. Only then will you be able to step back and be proud of what you’ve built.