At the beginning of the 14th century, work was underway in Central Europe to build a magnificent cathedral. The head of the work was a monk. He was assigned to monitor the work of all laborers and artisans. And so the monk decided to watch how the masons worked. He chose three masons as representatives of the different positions represented in their profession.
Approaching the first mason, he said:
— My brother, tell me about your work.
The mason looked up from his work and answered in a broken voice, full of anger and indignation:
“As you can see, I’m sitting in front of a stone slab a meter high, half a meter long and wide. And with every blow of the cutter on this stone, I feel like a piece of my life is leaving. Look, my hands are tired and covered with calluses. My face became haggard and my hair turned grey. This work never ends, it continues endlessly, day after day. It exhausts me. Where is the satisfaction? I will die long before the cathedral is built.
The monk approached the second mason.
“My brother,” he said, “tell me about your work.”
“Brother,” the mason answered in a quiet, calm voice, “as you can see, I am sitting in front of a stone slab one meter high and half a meter long and wide.” And with every blow of the chisel on the stone, I feel that I am creating life and the future. Look, I was able to make sure my family lived in a comfortable home, much better than the one where I grew up. My children go to school. Without a doubt, they will achieve more in life than I did. And all this became possible thanks to my work. I give my skill to the cathedral, and it also gifts me.
The monk approached the third mason.
“Brother,” he said, “tell me about your work.”
“Brother,” the mason answered with a voice full of joy and a wide smile. “You see, I’m sitting in front of a stone slab that’s a meter high and half a meter wide and long. And with every touch of the chisel to the stone, I feel that I am carving my destiny. Look, you see what beautiful features emerge from the stone. By sitting here, I am not only embodying my skill and my craft, I am contributing to what I value and believe in. The Universe, reflected in the cathedral, will reward each of us. Here, beside this stone, I am at peace with myself, and I know that, although I will not see this cathedral completed, it will stand for another thousand years, representing what is true in us, and serving the purpose for which the Almighty sent me to this earth.
The monk went away and reflected for some time on what he had heard. He fell into a peaceful sleep, such as he had not slept for a long time, and the next day he relieved himself of the authority of the work manager and offered this position to a third mason.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru