Go Figure!

“Integrity is what we do, what we say, and what we say we do.  ~ Don GalerI

Ed was tired – in fact he was ready to re-tire.  A skilled carpenter for most of his 60+ years, he enjoyed his craft.  Examples of his work could be found all over the county – and his jobs could easily be identified by his attention to details.  It was time to fix up their own house, a promise made to his wife years ago and neglected due to frequently over-promising others.

He’d miss the paycheck of course, but he wanted to enjoy a more leisure lifestyle and spend more time with his wife and extended family.  What the heck, he had good health.  They’d get by.

When told of Ed’s plans to leave the home construction business, his employer asked if he would build just one more house – as a personal favor.  Reluctantly, Ed agreed.  But only one more!

From the outset however, it was easy to see that Ed’s heart was not longer in his work.  In his mind, he already checked out; he had lost much of his enthusiasm and had resorted to shoddy workmanship using inferior materials.  Every day was a challenge – he labored to finish quickly.  It was a shameful way to end his career.

Finally Ed finished the job.  Funny – in 45 years he had never really considered his work a ‘job.’  Maybe he should have quit when . . .  His boss, the general contractor, came to inspect the new house.   “You’ve been a great asset to this company Ed,” he complimented.  “Not only are you an accomplished craftsman, but an inspirational teacher as well.  Therefore, it’s with great appreciation that I give you the keys to your new house, my friend, as my gift to you."

Ed stood stunned, what a shame!  If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently, with greater care, with better materials.  Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well.

So it is with us.  We build our lives often distracted; reacting rather than thinking, willing to put forward less than our very best.  Then we’re shocked at the consequences that we created ourselves: poor health, financial stress, broken families, senseless addictions, empty God-less lives.  If we’d realized, we would have done it differently by taking better care of ourselves, spending within our means, following His Word.

Life is a do-it-yourself project.  Your life tomorrow will be the result of choices you’ve made today.  So watch your actions, they become habits.  Watch your habits, for they define character.   And guard your Character, for it becomes your Destiny.

Carpenter Lord, integrity is a lifelong battle.  Help us build wisely, for it’s the only life we will ever build.  Even if we live just one more day, remind us to live it justly, to love others mercifully, and to walk humbly before You.  Amen.