Developing a Cathedral Mentality

“And this I pray, that your love may abound (i.e., excel) still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ” (Philippians 1:9-10 NET)

There is a story of a traveler who came across three individuals working with stones. Curious as to what they were doing he asked the first one “What are you doing with these stones?”Without hesitation the worker quickly responded, I am a stone cutter and I am cutting stones. Not satisfied, he approached the second worker and asked “What are you doing with those stones?”. “I am a stone cutter and I am trying to make enough money to support my family.”The worker said. Having two different answers to the same question the traveler asked the third worker the same question. The third worker stopped what he was doing, bringing his chisel to his side. Deep in thought, he looked at the traveler and said, “I am a stone cutter and I am building a cathedral.”

Even though all the workers appeared to be doing the same thing, their scope, size and vision differed. The third worker had a great future in mind encompassing other people and future generations. A cathedral is expected to be a work of excellence, like Solomon’s Temple, and in years past it took many years, even several generations to complete. The end results were usually an architectural and artistic marvels. But all needed to have a vision of the great work they were a part of.

Do you live your life with the future in mind or are you so engrossed in the task at hand and what you want for yourself right now? At work, politics or religious life, live with the future in mind. You have the opportunity right now to ensure that you build a bright future for your nation and not just your family or tribe, and you have the opportunity to make the path smooth for other “cathedral builders”. Strive to be visionary and not divisive.

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“No individual is alone responsible for a single stepping stone along the path of progress, and where the path is smooth progress is most rapid”. Ernest Lawrence

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