Building Cathedrals

There are several variations of this familiar little story. Its author is unknown to me, but it has a good meaning and makes a valid point. Please take a few minutes and reflect on this variation of the 3 laborers:

 There once was a traveler who journeyed all over the globe in search of wisdom and enlightenment. In the midst of one village, he came upon a great deal of noise, dust, and commotion.

He approached the nearest laborer and asked, “Excuse me; I’m not from this village. May I ask what’s going on here?” The laborer replied curtly, “Can’t you see? I’m busting rocks.”

The traveler approached a second laborer doing the same thing and asked the same question. The second laborer replied, “Can’t you see? I’m earning a living to support my family.”

The traveler then approached a third laborer who was also breaking up rocks and posed the question a third time. With a broad smile and a gleam in his eye, the third laborer replied with great pride: “Can’t you see? We’re building a cathedral.”

It’s all in our perspective…

Simon Sinek in his book, Start with Why, alludes to this parable when he writes, “We don’t want to come to work to build a wall; we want to come to work to build a cathedral” (p. 135).

Within the environment of a Christian school we offer a holistic educational atmosphere that inspires students to pursue knowledge and understanding, and encourages them to encounter God in a deep and personal relationship. In essence, we challenge them to build cathedrals of their lives for the purposes of God.

For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.  (Jeremiah 29:11)

We’re building Cathedrals!