THESTORYTELLINGMONK
The Best Cradle
A man wanted to have a beautiful cradle made for his soon-to-be born first child. When he inquired who was the best carpenter in town, everyone agreed that there was only one—a real perfectionist.
The father went to this carpenter and explained, “My wife is due to give birth in two months and I would like to order a really nice cradle from you. I heard you were one of the best carpenters.”
The carpenter puffed up with pride and said, “Yes, I must say, you will have not just a cradle, you’ll have a dream cradle, one that has never been seen before!”
The father was highly excited.
“Wonderful! When will it be ready?”
“Come next week.”
The father returned the next week hoping to see the miracle of carpentry.
“Ah, yes, the cradle,” said the carpenter as he delicately sanded a beautiful box. “Well, it's not quite ready. It’s got to be perfect before I hand it over to you.”
“All right. When shall I come back? Tomorrow?”
“Give me another week. I want to do a really good job, you know.”
The father returned the next week.
“I'm still not really happy with my work,” the carpenter said. “Give me another week. I want to really make the best possible cradle.”
Every week the father returned and there was always an excuse why the cradle was not ready. Eventually the child was born, and the father went and bought a cradle somewhere else. His child grew up, became an adult, married, and his wife became pregnant. The old dad reminisced, “You know, I once ordered a cradle for you. Maybe it's ready by now. Why don't you go see the carpenter and ask him. I was told that he’s really good.”
The son went to see the old carpenter.
“My father placed an order for a cradle for me when I was a baby, and we were wondering if… it was ready?”
The carpenter looked up from his work bench and gripped his chisel with white knuckles.
“Listen, my boy,” he pointed the chisel at the young man’s chest. “I do the best work! I don't deliver shoddy goods. And I'm not going to have you or your father push me around. That clear?”
The son realized he was talking to a fool, and went and bought a cradle from another place.
The humble wise person perfects his dedication to reach his highest potential, but surrenders the outcome to God and accepts his little flaws. The perfectionist fool keeps making and remaking his toys of spiritual progress.