A carpenter's story 木匠的故事
An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer of his plans to leave the house-building business to live a more leisurel life with his wife and enjoy his extended family. He would miss the paycheck each week ,but he needed to retire. They could get by.
有個老木匠準備退休，他告訴老闆，說要離開建造行業，回家與妻子兒女享受天倫之樂。雖然老闆給他的工資很高，可是，他更想享受退休生活。生活總能維持下去。
The employer 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 work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.
老闆很不捨得他的好工人離開，問他是否能幫忙再建一座房子。老木匠答應了。但是大家後來都看得出來，他的心已不在工作上，他使用的是次料，做工也很粗糙。這真是一種令人遺憾的結束自己事業的方式。
When the carpenter finished his work ,his employer came to inspect the house. Then he handed the front-door key to the carpenter "This is your house..." he said " my gift to you. "
房子建好的時候，老闆前來視察，然後把大門的鑰匙遞給他，說道：“這是你的房子……是我送給你的禮物。”
What a shocked!
老木匠驚呆了!
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.
真是丟臉啊!如果他早知道是在給自己建房子，他一定不會這麼應付了事的。現在他得自己住自己修得很湊合得房子了。
So it is with us .We build our lives in a destructive 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, we would have done it differently.
我們又何嘗不是這樣。我們漫不經心地“建造”自己的生活，不是積極行動，而是消極應付，凡事不肯精益求精，在關鍵時刻不能盡最大努力。在生命的關鍵時刻，我們沒有付出自己最大的努力。等我們驚覺自己的處境，早已深困在自己建造的“房子”裡了。如果能夠重新來過，我們一定不會這麼做。
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 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." Who could say it more clearly? Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today.
就當你自己就是那位木工吧。在建造“生活”這所房子。每天要釘釘、鋪板、砌牆。那麼,你就該用心地去建。你的生活只能這樣建造。哪怕你只在房子裡住一天，這一天也應該活得優雅、有尊嚴。牆上的銘言寫道：“生活正如一項DIY的工程。”誰能比這個說得更明白？你今天的態度與選擇決定了你明天會住在什麼樣的“房子”裡
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