A Good Plan for You.

"When the effective leader is finished with his work, the people say it happened naturally." Lao Tzu

I Kings 6: 37-38 Work began on the Temple in Ziv, the second month, during the fourth year Solomon was king over Israel. The Temple was finished during the eleventh year he was king, in the eighth month, the month of Bul. It was built exactly as it was planned. Solomon had spent seven years building it.

Clyde's Plan

Clyde's life was spent. After 45 years of construction, he looked for days at the lake. Fishing had always been relaxing for him. Now he could relax the rest of his years.

Enterprise Construction kept Clyde on the go. Sometimes he worked 60 hours a week on the new apartments and houses. There would be plenty of projects at the lake. But he liked to tinker. Now, he could finish out those cabinets for his wife. Their home had been the last to be tended. Cobbler's shoes, right?

Jake's Plan

Jake, the owner, pleaded with Clyde to build just one more house before he retired. This was a special favor. Clyde resisted. He really was spent. He really looked to quit the hard stuff. It was a big house with lots of special details for aesthetics. Plenty of stone and brick.

Overseeing the workers was the hardest part. They always wanted to cut corners and get the jobs done faster. Clyde loved quality construction. Okay. He agreed. One more house. Then goodbye long hours and hello rocking chair on the porch at the lake.

As the days moved slowly, Clyde began to cut corners. What the heck. This was his last job. Why wait for the right lumber to come in for the flooring. The leftover pressboard from the last house was good enough. This job became all about good enough. Get it over. No one would notice. It all gets covered in sheet rock anyway. People don't keep houses like they used to. Shoot, Clyde and his wife lived in the same house for all those 45 years. They had put up with cramped rooms when the kids were growing. They had patched and repaired and made it work.

Finally, the home was finished. It certainly was not Clyde quality behind the scenes, but it looked okay on the outside. Interior attic work had been complicated. They rigged some fixes that should hold at least ten years. That was enough to get past the five year homeowners warranty. Time for the lake.

Final Plan

The final walkthrough was on target to get Clyde to the lake before Spring crappie started biting. He was anxious to finish the inspection and turnover to Enterprise. Jake seemed to be taking longer than usual checking every detail to ensure satisfaction. Finally, he was done.

"Clyde, you've been a faithful worker and good friend." Jake started what sounded like it would be a speech. All of the principal partners had come out for this house. Clyde was stymied as to why it was so special. Sure, it was on a double lot and had beautiful landscaping scheduled. Sure, it was a big house with great interior detail. What is the big deal?

"So, Clyde, we've all agreed this is your house. It is our gift to you for your years of service."

Clyde's heart sunk. He began to think of all the problems skipped over in building this house. Now it was his home. He had built his own home. Bittersweet. Fractured joy.

A Plan for You

Every day we are building our house. Of course this story is constructed; hopefully, with a little more care and craft than Clyde's house.

Every day in your business and personal and community life you are building the environment in which you will live the next day.

You can build a great life, a great business, and a great community. Build the one in which you will be ecstatic to live every day.

God's Plan

Jeremiah 29:11b I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.

Father bring joy and reward to my friend, You.

Let them live in the good fruit of their labor. End any delay. Bless them.

Cause good results in their building for family, friends and person.

Phil Larson 405-388-8037 508 Tumbleweed Dr. Yukon, Ok 73099
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