Earn your way

For many years, the master carpenter had worked at his craft. Many men had worked beside him, learning from him. Yet the years had worn heavy on him and he was now very old and yet he came to work still and toiled every day. His sons and co-workers worried about him and tried to talk him into retiring. The master would have no part in the conversation. Each day would see him with his tools, working along side the others. No matter what anyone said, he came to work every day, week after week, year after year. Eventually, the others decided, they would simply hide the master's tools. They made a vow among themselves that no one would lend the master any of theirs. Without tools to work with, the master would be forced to relax and stop working, getting the well deserved rest he had earned. The next day the master arrived at the work site. He looked around for his tools but could not find them. He asked no one for help, nor did he question anyone about the missing tools. When he completed his search, he sat down and watched the others.

It had been the master's custom, over the years, at the end of each day's work, to sit down with his men and share a meal, an act of celebrating a good day's labor. He had always done so. On the day he could not find his tools, when the work day ended, he arose from his chair and left, walking home, without a word to anyone or a glance left or right.

Each day, for the next several days, he arrived for work as usual. He walked around the site, searching for his tools. When he failed to locate them, he would resume his seat and continue watching the others work. At the end of the day, when the men gathered for their traditional meal, he walked away, returning home.

Finally, the men gave in and returned his tools to him. He did not ask why they had taken them. He did not thank them for returning them. He accepted his tools without comment and immediately began to work. He worked all day. At the end of the day he sat down at the head of the table for the meal.

No work, no food.