corimagua

The Carpenter’s House

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 with what they already had.

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 and began working, 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, reacting 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 possibly 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

Author UNKNOWN

La Casa del Carpintero

Un anciano carpintero estaba pronto para el retiro. Le dijo a su empleador-contratista de sus planes de retirarse del negozio de construir casas para vivir una vida mas relajada con su esposa y su familia.

Iba a extranar el pago, pero estaba cansado y se tenia que retirar. Podrían mantenerse sin problema con lo que tenían. El jefe estaba triste de ver que su buen y fiel trabajador se iba y le pregunto si le podría construir solo una casa mas, como un favor personal. El carpintero dijo que si y arranco a construir, pero con el tiempo era fácil darse cuenta que su corazón no estaba puesto en su trabajo. Recurrió a una mano de obra de bajo nivel y uso materiales inferiores. Era una desafortunada manera de terminar su carrera.

Cuando el carpintero termino su trabajo llego el jefe a inspeccionar la casa. El jefe le entrego la llave al carpintero y le dijo, “Esta es tu casa. Es mi regalo para ti.”

Que asombro! Que lastima! que verguenza! Si solo hubiera sabido que estaba construyendo su propia casa lo hubiera echo todo diferente. Ahora le tocaba vivir en una casa que había construido no muy bien.

Es igual con nosotros. Construimos nuestros vidas de una manera distraída, reaccionando en vez de actuando, capaces de otorgar mucho menos que lo mejor. En puntos claves no damos nuestro mejor esfuerzo. Después miramos con asombro a la situación que creamos y nos damos cuenta que estamos viviendo en al casa que nosotros mismos construimos. Si nos hubiéramos dado cuenta, lo hubiéramos echo todo diferente. 

Piensa que tu eres el carpintero. Pienso en tu casa. Cada día clavas un clavo mas, pones una tabla, o subís una pared. Construye sabiamente. Es posiblemente la unica vida que vas a construir. Aunque vivas por solo un día mas, ese día se merece ser vivido con gracia y dignidad. La placa en la pared lee, ” La vida es un proyecto; hágalo usted mismo.” Tu vida mañana, sera un resultado de las actitudes y las decisiones que tomes hoy.

-Autor Desconocido