Community

It seems that an elderly carpenter was ready to retire.  He told his contractor employer of his plans to leave the house-building business and begin to live a more leisurely life with his wife, together enjoying their extended family – especially their grandchildren.  Of course, he would miss his paycheck, but he was ready to retire, and they could get by. 
           
The contractor was sorry to see such a good worker leave, and he asked the carpenter if he would build just one more house, as a personal favor.

The carpenter said yes, but it soon became easy to see that his heart wasn't in his work.  He resorted to shoddy workmanship and he used inferior materials.  It was an unfortunate way to end a successful career.

When the carpenter finished his work, his employer came to inspect the house.  He handed the key to the front door to the carpenter and said, "This is your house.  It's my gift to you."

Of course, the carpenter was shocked.  If only he had known . . .

It's only a story, of course – and not a true one – just something that someone came up with to make people think.  It did that for me.  It made me think about how often we live our lives as if they don't matter.  It made me think about how often we just get through the day, without thinking too much about the impact of words we utter or actions we take -- or perhaps words we don't utter or actions we fail to take.  We put less than our best into what we're doing.  We get by.

Then sometimes we look back, and we wish we could do it over.  And of course, we can't go back.  We must live in the house that we built. 

How's it going in your life?

• Is there some time you need to spend in prayer, some Bible study that you need to work in to your schedule, a new commitment to coming to worship that it's time for you to make? 

• Is there a kind word that someone needs you to speak, an apology that you need to offer, a note for you to write, a phone call you need to make? 

• Is it time for you to give more attention to your spouse or your children, perhaps your parents, a lonely neighbor or a friend? 

• Would it be a good idea for you to read a book, or go to the beach, or find some other way to bring yourself refreshment and renewal? 

• Do you need to share your resources more, evaluate your material priorities in general, write a generous check to meet some need outside of your own?   

How's the house that you're building? 

See you in church!

Grace and Peace,