生活如同为自己打造的工程
An elderly carpenter was ready to retire%26#46; He told his employer of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family%26#46; He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire%26#46; They could get by%26#46;
The employer was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor%26#46; The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work%26#46; He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials%26#46; It was an unfortunate way to end his career%26#46;
When the carpenter finished his work and the employer came to inspect the house and handed the front-door key to the carpenter%26#46; "This is your house," he said, "my gift to you%26#46;"
What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently%26#46; Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well%26#46;
So it is with us%26#46; We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best%26#46; At important points we do not give the job our best effort%26#46; 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%26#46; If we had realized, we would have done it differently%26#46;
Think of yourself as the carpenter%26#46; Think about your house%26#46; Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall%26#46; Build wisely%26#46; It is the only life you will ever build%26#46; Even if you live it for only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity%26#46; The plaque on the wall says, "Life is a do-it-yourself project%26#46;" Who could say it more clearly? Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today%26#46;
中文：
一位上了年纪的木匠作好了退休的准备。他告诉老板他准备离开建筑行业，与老伴和儿孙们一起共享天伦之乐，过一种更悠闲自得的生活。虽然他因此而少了份薪水，但他想退休了。至于日子嘛，还可以凑合着过。
眼看这位优秀的木工就要离去，老板很遗憾。他问木工可否帮忙再建一所房子。木工答应了，可明眼人一眼就看得出来，此时他做事心不在焉，做出的活儿技艺粗糙，用的料也没那么讲究了。他就这样为自己的建筑生涯划上了句号，真是令人遗憾。
房子建好后，老板过来看新房并交给木工一把前门钥匙，说：“这房子归你了，我送给你的礼物。”
多么让人吃惊，多么让人羞愧啊！假如他知道在为自己造房，他会做得大不一样。现在他不得不住在自己建造的那所粗制滥造的房子里了。
我们又何尝不是如此呢？我们心浮气躁地打造生活，不是主动工作而是被动应付，能省事就省事。关键的时候也没尽心尽力。蓦然回首，才瞠目结舌地发现自己正住在自己建造的那所房子中，自食苦果。早知如此，何必当初。
就当你自己就是那位木工吧。就当你为自己建房，每天要钉钉、铺板、砌墙。那么，你就该用心地去建。你的生活只能这样建造。哪怕你只在房子里多生活一天，这一天也应该活得优雅、有尊严。墙上的铭匾写道：“生活正如一项为自己打造的工程。”还有什么比这更清楚的呢？明日的生活之果，孕育于你今天的态度和抉择之树上。
生活如同为自己打造的工程
An elderly carpenter was ready to retire%26#46; He told his employer of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family%26#46; He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire%26#46; They could get by%26#46;
The employer was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor%26#46; The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work%26#46; He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials%26#46; It was an unfortunate way to end his career%26#46;
When the carpenter finished his work and the employer came to inspect the house and handed the front-door key to the carpenter%26#46; "This is your house," he said, "my gift to you%26#46;"
What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently%26#46; Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well%26#46;
So it is with us%26#46; We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best%26#46; At important points we do not give the job our best effort%26#46; 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%26#46; If we had realized, we would have done it differently%26#46;
Think of yourself as the carpenter%26#46; Think about your house%26#46; Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall%26#46; Build wisely%26#46; It is the only life you will ever build%26#46; Even if you live it for only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity%26#46; The plaque on the wall says, "Life is a do-it-yourself project%26#46;" Who could say it more clearly? Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today%26#46;
中文：
一位上了年纪的木匠作好了退休的准备。他告诉老板他准备离开建筑行业，与老伴和儿孙们一起共享天伦之乐，过一种更悠闲自得的生活。虽然他因此而少了份薪水，但他想退休了。至于日子嘛，还可以凑合着过。
眼看这位优秀的木工就要离去，老板很遗憾。他问木工可否帮忙再建一所房子。木工答应了，可明眼人一眼就看得出来，此时他做事心不在焉，做出的活儿技艺粗糙，用的料也没那么讲究了。他就这样为自己的建筑生涯划上了句号，真是令人遗憾。
房子建好后，老板过来看新房并交给木工一把前门钥匙，说：“这房子归你了，我送给你的礼物。”
多么让人吃惊，多么让人羞愧啊！假如他知道在为自己造房，他会做得大不一样。现在他不得不住在自己建造的那所粗制滥造的房子里了。
我们又何尝不是如此呢？我们心浮气躁地打造生活，不是主动工作而是被动应付，能省事就省事。关键的时候也没尽心尽力。蓦然回首，才瞠目结舌地发现自己正住在自己建造的那所房子中，自食苦果。早知如此，何必当初。
就当你自己就是那位木工吧。就当你为自己建房，每天要钉钉、铺板、砌墙。那么，你就该用心地去建。你的生活只能这样建造。哪怕你只在房子里多生活一天，这一天也应该活得优雅、有尊严。墙上的铭匾写道：“生活正如一项为自己打造的工程。”还有什么比这更清楚的呢？明日的生活之果，孕育于你今天的态度和抉择之树上。