Living an intentional life

An elderly carpenter wanted to retire. He told his employer that he planned to leave the house-building business and live a more leisurely, laid-back life with his wife, enjoying time with his grandchildren.

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go. He asked the carpenter if he would build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter was reluctant at first, but at last his boss persuaded him to agree to do it.

But it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He cut corners. He didn’t do his calculations properly, so he didn’t order enough wood, and when he ran out, he couldn’t get matching timber. He resorted to shoddy workmanship – door jambs weren’t plumbed straight, so the doors scraped the floor when opened, window frames weren’t true and draughts blew in. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.

When the carpenter finished his work, he called his boss who came to inspect the house. But instead of going inside to check it out, the contractor handed the front-door key to the carpenter. ‘Here, take the key. This is your house,’ he said. ‘It is my gift to you for all you have done for me over the years’

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 so poorly and with such little pride.

This story is from a treasury of tales re-told by Roger Jenkins

Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house, the life you are building one day at a time. 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, doesn’t that day deserve to be lived graciously and well?

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.

The blessing is not in living - but in knowing how to live.

(Mexican proverb)