How are You Building Your House?

Interesting to consider a house metaphor
for life. Considering that every action
we take builds the structure in which we
live every choice we make matters, and
has the ability to leave us better for
the results netted by the choice.

We may not always realize what we are
doing, as we do it, however our ability
to settle in a way that just gets things
done may leave us in some way
disenchanted or disillusioned.

It isn't the easiest thing to be so mindful
and meticulous, but the end results often
seem to be worth it.

Consider this tale:

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 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, 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
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 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."
Your life tomorrow will be the result of
your attitudes and the choices you make
today.

-Anon. Y. Mous

What are you building?