Friday 18 February 2011

Building The House.

Yesterday I made a real start on my new plot. It is amazing the amount of stuff that you can get into a little shed, if you put you mind to it, or don’t. It took me more than four barrow loads to remove all the rubbish , the old rotten wood, the empty bags, empty plant containers and all sorts of other bit and pieces. After about an hour I found that the shed did in fact have a floor on it.

At the bottom of the plot were two old and rotting cold frames. Another four or five barrow loads and all this rotting wood had been taken to the rubbish, Now I could really see the task before me. Having cleared away it is now time to consider the constructive part.  I measured the space, 33yards by 9 yards wide. At present it looks like a field of weeds. I hope by mid summer it is a place producing vegetables.

That will only happen with care and nurture.

My Plot

Reminds me of the tale of the man who all his life had worked in the construction business, building houses.

Now an elderly carpenter  was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business to live a more leisurely life with his wife and enjoy his extended family.
He would miss the wages he earned each week, but he wanted 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 favour.
The carpenter said yes, but over 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, his employer came to inspect the house. Then he handed the front-door key to the carpenter and said, "This is your house, 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. If we could do it over, we would do it much differently. 
But, you cannot go back. You are the carpenter, and every day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall.
Someone once said, "Life is a do-it-yourself project." The attitude, and the choices you make today, help build the "house" you will live in tomorrow.
Therefore, Build wisely!
I hope you have a productive day and a wonderful weekend.
This blog is linked to my other. Lavender Fields
   

7 comments:

  1. Build wisely indeed. Love your plot, Ralph. It sounds pretty large!

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  2. Good Morning Ralph, your plot is twice the size of my vegetable garden! I have onions and spinich and snow peas planted outside and lettice and broccoli starts in my greenhouse already. 'Tis the season!

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  3. What a great way to look at our life...

    I'm off on a painting retreat for a week. I'll stop by again when I return. Have a good one! And also, where is all this snow you got? We're still buried in it!

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  4. I'm sure that this year of gardening will yield even more than vegetables, but more parables on life and good living. Just the principle of sowing and reaping packs a punch in my life! Happy is the man who begins work in his garden!!

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  5. Build it with care, with strength, honour and honesty. Add a little love for oneself and others and the house should withstand all assaults.

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  6. Build with care, honesty, integrity and strength; add a little love for oneself and others and the 'house' should withstand all assaults.

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  7. I'm looking forward to seeing a photo of this same plot with your vegetables growing...that will be fun to see the before and after. Thanks for the story...all true. I like the analogy of our lives being a house that we've built!

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