mhmary
14/09/2006, 05:59
Life Is A Do-It-Yourself Project!Edited and published by John J. Susko – July 2001
After many years of dedicated service an elderly carpenter found himself wanting to retire. He told his employer of his plans to leave the house-building business and live a more leisurely lifestyle. Although he would certainly miss the weekly paycheck, he felt as if it was time to go…and was sure he and his wife could somehow get by. His boss, appreciating all the years of hard work and loyal service that the carpenter had put in, was very sorry to see his best worker go, but asked if he could build just one more house for him—as kind of a personal favor. The carpenter said, “Yes,” but in time it was easy to see that his heart was no longer in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship, employed many unnecessary shortcuts, and used a wide variety of inferior and sub-standard materials. It certainly was an unfortunate way to end such a dedicated and illustrious career. When the carpenter was just about finished his work, he asked his boss to come out to inspect what he had done. Knowing that he had done such a poor job, he told his boss that he still had a few things to pick up at the hardware store…and that he hoped to be back before the inspection was complete. As the carpenter’s boss gave the house his customary “once over,” it became quite obvious that the carpenter had given this project much less than his best effort. This definitely shocked, disappointed, and saddened the contractor a great deal. Still a little bit dazed and unsure as to how to break the disappointing news to the carpenter, the contractor regretfully pulled an envelope from his shirt pocket, placed it on the carpenters toolbox, and left. When the carpenter returned, he was a bit relieved to find that his boss was no longer around. He had hoped this would be the case, since he was ashamed of his work and could not really come up with any good explanation for it. Since all of his work was done, the carpenter decided to take one final walk around the house before packing up his tools and ending his career. From room to room he walked back and forth, noticing all the imperfections of his work, but feeling as if he had succeeded by just “getting the job done.” As he entered the kitchen to get his tools, he noticed the envelope that the boss had left for him. He was unsure as to what the note might say, but reluctantly, he opened it. Inside the envelope he found a key taped to a piece of the contractor’s personal stationary. The note read:For all your years of distinguished and selfless service!Here is the key to your new house…my gift to you!
The carpenter was devastated! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently! So, too, it is with us. We build our lives a day at a time, often putting less than our very best into the building process. When we finally realize that we have to live in the house we have built for ourselves, we usually end up wishing that we could do it all over again; ever so differently than what we, initially, had done. Unfortunately, however, we can usually never go back. You are the carpenter! Each and every day you hammer a nail, place a board, and/or erect a wall. "Life is a do-it-yourself project," someone had once said. Your attitudes, actions, behaviors…and the choices you make today are building the "house" you will have to live in tomorrow. So, please, build wisely!
After many years of dedicated service an elderly carpenter found himself wanting to retire. He told his employer of his plans to leave the house-building business and live a more leisurely lifestyle. Although he would certainly miss the weekly paycheck, he felt as if it was time to go…and was sure he and his wife could somehow get by. His boss, appreciating all the years of hard work and loyal service that the carpenter had put in, was very sorry to see his best worker go, but asked if he could build just one more house for him—as kind of a personal favor. The carpenter said, “Yes,” but in time it was easy to see that his heart was no longer in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship, employed many unnecessary shortcuts, and used a wide variety of inferior and sub-standard materials. It certainly was an unfortunate way to end such a dedicated and illustrious career. When the carpenter was just about finished his work, he asked his boss to come out to inspect what he had done. Knowing that he had done such a poor job, he told his boss that he still had a few things to pick up at the hardware store…and that he hoped to be back before the inspection was complete. As the carpenter’s boss gave the house his customary “once over,” it became quite obvious that the carpenter had given this project much less than his best effort. This definitely shocked, disappointed, and saddened the contractor a great deal. Still a little bit dazed and unsure as to how to break the disappointing news to the carpenter, the contractor regretfully pulled an envelope from his shirt pocket, placed it on the carpenters toolbox, and left. When the carpenter returned, he was a bit relieved to find that his boss was no longer around. He had hoped this would be the case, since he was ashamed of his work and could not really come up with any good explanation for it. Since all of his work was done, the carpenter decided to take one final walk around the house before packing up his tools and ending his career. From room to room he walked back and forth, noticing all the imperfections of his work, but feeling as if he had succeeded by just “getting the job done.” As he entered the kitchen to get his tools, he noticed the envelope that the boss had left for him. He was unsure as to what the note might say, but reluctantly, he opened it. Inside the envelope he found a key taped to a piece of the contractor’s personal stationary. The note read:For all your years of distinguished and selfless service!Here is the key to your new house…my gift to you!
The carpenter was devastated! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently! So, too, it is with us. We build our lives a day at a time, often putting less than our very best into the building process. When we finally realize that we have to live in the house we have built for ourselves, we usually end up wishing that we could do it all over again; ever so differently than what we, initially, had done. Unfortunately, however, we can usually never go back. You are the carpenter! Each and every day you hammer a nail, place a board, and/or erect a wall. "Life is a do-it-yourself project," someone had once said. Your attitudes, actions, behaviors…and the choices you make today are building the "house" you will have to live in tomorrow. So, please, build wisely!