Building Your House建造自己的房屋

屈联西

       来源:   2010年8月《英语沙龙》
                                                                                                   
An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer of his plans to leave the house-building business to live a more leisurely life with his wife and enjoy his extended family. The employer was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but over time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.

When the carpenter finished his work, his employer came to inspect the house. Then he handed the front-door key to the carpenter and said, “This is your house…my gift to you.” The carpenter was dumbfounded！ What a shame！ If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.

So it is with us. We build our lives, often putting less than our best into the building. Then, with a shock, we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we would do it much differently. But, you cannot go back. Someone once said, “Life is a do-it-yourself project.” Your attitude, and the choices you make today, help build the “house” you will live in tomorrow. Therefore, build wisely！



一位木匠年事已高，准备退休。他跟他的老板说，他打算离开房屋建造业，去和自己的妻子过一种较为悠闲的日子，享受大家庭的天伦之乐。看到自己的好工人要离开，老板感到很惋惜。他问老木匠能否出于个人帮忙再建造一座房屋，木匠答应了。但过了几天，人们很容易看出来木匠没有用心工作。他干起活来敷衍了事，用的是劣质材料。如此结束自己兢兢业业的职业生涯真令人遗憾。

木匠把房屋建好后，老板前来检查。随后，他把那座房屋的前门钥匙递给木匠，说：“这是你的房子，是我送给你的礼物。”木匠惊呆了！真丢脸！要是他知道他造的是自己的房屋，就会做得完全不一样了。

我们就像那个老木匠一样。我们建造着自己的生活，常常是心不在焉，最后，我们吃惊地发现，自己不得不住在自己建造的房屋里。如果能重新来一遍，我们会做得大不相同。但是，你不能回头重来。有人曾经说过：“生活就是一项自己动手建造的工程。”你的态度，你今天作出的选择，都在帮助你建造着你明天将要住进去的“房屋”。因此，明智地建造自己的房屋吧！

                                                                                                  

屈联西

When the carpenter finished his work, his employer came to inspect the house. Then he handed the front-door key to the carpenter and said, “This is your house…my gift to you.” The carpenter was dumbfounded！ What a shame！ If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.
木匠把房屋建好后，老板前来检查。随后，他把那座房屋的前门钥匙递给木匠，说：“这是你的房子，是我送给你的礼物。”木匠惊呆了！真丢脸！要是他知道他造的是自己的房屋，就会做得完全不一样了。