i am building a cathedral.

on a day like today when i have to go outside numerous times to breathe and silence my ears a bit before returning inside to a screaming baby, i receive a card in the mail from a dear friend who knows exactly what i need to hear. this really blessed me today and i hope it touches you, too.

a man walking down the road encountered three dirt-covered tired men on their way home from work. curious, the man asked the first worker about his job. "i lay bricks," the man grumbled, "brick after brick after brick." the man asked the second worker about his job. "i build walls. i finished one today, in fact. tomorrow i will start another," he replied. the man asked the third worker about his job. with spirit in his voice he said, "i build cathedrals--great, beautiful monuments that glorify God and draw people to Him!" the man thanked the workers and continued down the road, with a hurried step to see the cathedral underway.

the man knew that all three workers were brick layers. though they worked the same trade their perspective differed greatly.

and she followed the story with a sweet letter to me...

"you are now a brick layer, each day is another brick, each stage another wall. but that view will break your spirit. no, you are more than a mere brick layer. you are building a cathedral! you are building a great, beautiful monument that will glorify God and draw people to Him! this is the perspective that truly encompasses the incredible job before you. make sure you take a few steps back every once in awhile to gain perspective, in order to preserve sanity and to appreciate the beauty of your trade."

perfect timing. thank you, shannon.