[ back ]
Hard Decisions
(by Gary Godfrey - May 05, 2008)
Some times, when hard decisions need to be made, you can ask too many people. Take for instance the time a local hospital asked a panel of doctors to vote on adding a new wing to their existing building.
The Allergist voted to scratch it, and Dermatologist advised, “no rash moves.”
The Gastroenterologist had a gut feeling about it, but the Neurologists thought the administration had a lot of nerve, and the Obstetricians stated that they were all laboring under misconception. The Ophthalmologist considered the idea short-sighted; the Pathologists yelled, “Over my dead body!” While the Pediatricians said, “Grow up.”
The Psychiartists thought the whole idea was madness; the Surgeons wanted to wash their hands of the whole thing and the Radiologists could see right through it! The Internist thought it was a bitter pill to swallow. Plastic Surgeons said, “This puts a whole new face on the matter.” The Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but the Urologists felt the scheme wouldn’t hold water. The Anesthesiologist thought the whole idea was a gas, and the Cardiologists didn’t have the heart to say no.
Now for part two.
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.
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, 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 a dedicated career.
When the carpenter finished his work the employer came to inspect the house. He handed the front door key to the carpenter. “This is your house, he said. “My gift to you!” The carpenter was shocked. What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all 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. (or the life we’ve built) If we could to it over, we’d do it much differently. But we cannot go back.
You are the carpenter. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Your attitudes and the choices you make today build the “house” (life) you’ll live in tomorrow.
Build wisely with eternity in view.
It’s never too late to start.
This week’s bottom line: Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside of them was superior to circumstance.
Bruce Barton
[ back ]
