Laying Bricks or Building Cathedrals
This is an old story that goes like this. One day in 1671, Christopher Wren observed three bricklayers on a scaffold, one crouched, one half-standing and one standing tall, working very hard and fast. To the first bricklayer, Christopher Wren asked the question, “What are you doing?” to which the bricklayer replied, “I’m a bricklayer. I’m working hard laying bricks to feed my family.” The second bricklayer responded, “I’m a builder. I’m building a wall.” But the third brick layer, the most productive of the three and the future leader of the group, when asked the question, “What are you doing?” replied with a gleam in his eye, “I’m a cathedral builder. I’m building a great cathedral for The Almighty.”
You may have heard this story before but I love it and had to share some thoughts about it. This story stands out for many reasons, some obvious, some are a bit more hidden.
I first heard this in a leadership meeting for a school district with the idea of encouraging the entire district, from every employee to every student, what we are truly building. This was to build a positive meaningful culture and combat apathy. I could go into another entire Anchor Point on the Business/Organization side of this but I think It ties directly to us individually in a few ways.
Perception vs Perspective
Our perspective of ourselves matters. How we frame what we do matters. All 3 brick layers were perceived to be doing the same thing yet have dramatically different perspectives of what they are doing.The shift in perspective does several things for us. It determines our effort, attitude, and purpose. If we feel that what we are doing is meaningless or without purpose then we will have a sense of apathy towards it both in our personal and professional lives.
Yet, it doesn't have to be that way. We have an opportunity to change our perspective. I hate when people say I am “just a” teacher, stay at home mom, in construction. etc.
Just teaching should be… I am educating and guiding our youth through love, discipline and high expectations to become successful members of society that create real lasting change in the world.
Just stay at home mom should be- I am raising and guiding my children to be strong and independent and to know that they are loved and cared for every single day while sacrificing economic comfort and status.
Just in construction should- I am working a very difficult and laborious job to build safe and beautiful homes for families while providing economic stability for my own family.
There are nt “just a” careers if our heart and perspective is aligned with a fulfilling purpose.
Finding purpose.
If you can't find purpose in what you do you need to change what you do. I think the most detrimental threat to society and communities, especially in young men, is that they do not find or create or find purpose for themselves. If you are apathetic, resentful, or angry with what you do then you have no sense of purpose in what you are doing. The sad part is that those emotions are contagious to those around you, your friends, your team, and your family.
On a much deeper level, (a level that I really can't comprehend) Victor Frankl writes extensively on this topic referencing his time in German concentration camps in his work Man’s Search For Meaning. He writes that the will power and survivability of Jewish prisoners during that time was dependent upon them finding their purpose and meaning during those horrendous times. I hate to oversimplify his work to fulfill this analogy but his perspective of life itself helped him survive the horrible circumstances.
He also states “ “Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose.”
― Victor Frankl
Knowing his story makes this quote that much more powerful. I highly recommend his book if you haven't read it.
The Extremes of the Bricklayer Analogy
The frustrating truth is that someone in your exact position, (family, career, finances) can have the ultimate fulfilling joy and purpose or feeling of complete misery. Yet, another indicator that happiness or joy shouldn't be about circumstances, just our attitude or perspective. Like the brick layers, our fulfillment in life is designed by our purpose. If you are fulfilling a purpose like building a great cathedral your attitude will be drastically different than someone who is merely laying bricks.
The Point
The point is that we can shift our perspective in attitude to find joy and purpose in what we are doing or we have the freedom to change what we do. The reality is life is too short to be miserable and we need to do all we can to make it fulfilling. This comes with defining and fulfilling purpose. Some might find purpose in seemingly medial tasks like brick laying, building businesses, treating patients, teaching, or parenting. Regardless, all of these can serve the ultimate purpose we all possess.
A Biblical Perspective
The Bible is full of God choosing to use unlikely candidates to fulfill his purpose. So regardless of the occupation there can still be fulfilling the ultimate purpose which is God’s will. Here are a few examples of “just a” occupations in the Bible that God used to fulfill the ultimate purpose in life.
David – Just a Shepherd (1 Samuel 16–17)
Peter (Simon Peter) –Just a Fisherman (Matthew 4:18)
Ruth – Just a Field laborer / gleaner (Ruth 2)
Elisha – Just a Plowman / farmer (1 Kings 19:19)
Hagar – Just a Servant/slave (Genesis 16)
Joseph (husband of Mary) – Just a Carpenter (Matthew 13:55)
Jesus – Just a Carpenter (Mark 6:3)
Paul – Just a Tentmaker (Acts 18:3)
Matthew (Levi) – Just a Tax collector (Matthew 9:9)
Naomi – Just a Widow, (Ruth 1)
God intended us to have work to enjoy and glorify him in even in the beginning with Adam, he was given a garden to manage. Fast forward to the New Testament and it states that “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men …” (Colossians 3:23, ESV) meaning that we may have worldly jobs like laying bricks but we can still work at it for God.
The cathedral example is not too veiled in showing that the smallest of jobs can lead to the glory of God. From James saying we should find joy in facing all trials and joy being directly tied to fulfilling our purpose though the spirit, it's easy to connect that circumstances to not drive or fulfill purpose. Our heart and mind drive our purpose in all the things that we do for our ultimate purpose is to fulfill our calling.
A few verses sum this up well.
What are we destined to do? - For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10) This is our ultimate purpose per the creator of the universe.
How do we do it? “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6.)
What is the most important action (according to Jesus)? “love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ … and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself…Matthew 22:37–40.
What is the resulting action of this? Lastly, we are to make disciples (Jesus Followers) of all nations. Matthew 28:19–20
None of these require or are dependent upon our occupation, family, finances, skills, abilities or any other circumstances. We can do this in anything we do and this is what leads to fulfillment, joy, peace, and hope.
Go build something great,
Cam