Building for Retirement

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer of his plans to leave the house-building business and live with his wife, enjoying his extended family. He would miss the pay cheque, but he needed to retire. The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go, and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favour. The carpenter replied that he would, but as time went by it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship with inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.

When the carpenter had finished his work, the employer came to inspect the house. He handed the key to the carpenter, “This is your house”, he said, “my gift to you”. The carpenter was shocked! What a shame! If only he had known he was building his own house, he would have done it so differently.

So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then with a shock we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over again, we’d do it very differently. We are a carpenters. Each day we hammer a nail, place a board or erect a wall. The attitudes and choices we make today build the ‘house’ we live in tomorrow. Build wisely!

Bro Lajabga Nyomiro (Bolero, Malawi)