No matter how you view the Roman Catholic Church as a whole, one thing is indisputable when you view a magnificent work of art such as Notre Dame Cathedral in Montreal—you are bound to be impressed by the intricacy of the workmanship.

As a matter of fact, it is tough not to be inspired by the commitment of those who worked on it to ensure that the final product was a most worthy offering to the Lord who deserves only the very best that can be produced by human minds and hands.

Research reveals that it took nearly 90 years to complete Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Historians are quick to point out that projects of this magnitude often required a skilled worker such as a stone mason to dedicate his entire working lifespan to building just one cathedral.

Imagine that, eh? Spending your entire lifetime on one project!

Made me wonder about the kind of motivation would inspire that magnitude of devotion to the task.

A story, made popular by Peter Drucker and retold many times by others, comes to mind. Here is the version of Bill von Achen in www.bestpracticesforbusiness.com:

“A man came across three masons who were working at chipping chunks of granite from large blocks. The first seemed unhappy at his job, chipping away and frequently looking at his watch. When the man asked what it was that he was doing, the first mason responded, rather curtly, “I’m hammering this stupid rock, and I can’t wait ’til 5 when I can go home.”

”A second mason, seemingly more interested in his work, was hammering diligently and when asked what it was that he was doing, answered, “Well, I’m moulding this block of rock so that it can be used with others to construct a wall. It’s not bad work, but I’ll sure be glad when it’s done.”

”A third mason was hammering at his block fervently, taking time to stand back and admire his work. He chipped off small pieces until he was satisfied that it was the best he could do. When he was questioned about his work he stopped, gazed skyward and proudly proclaimed, “I am building a cathedral!”

Uncommon commitment to a cause puts common tasks in their proper perspective, does it not?

We are not just changing diapers. We are raising a world changer!

We are not just doing volunteer work. We are being equipped for servant leadership!

We are not just preparing for a test. We are being groomed to be problem solvers!

We are not just spending money on our children’s education. We are investing in the future of our nation!

We are not just teaching Sunday School. We are raising an army of Christian soldiers.

We are not just sharing the gospel. We are populating heaven and emptying hell!

We are not just discipling a new believer. We are raising disciplers who will produce disciplers who will reproduce disciplers…and so on and so forth!

We are not just receiving healing of the heart ministry for ourselves. We are sparing generations yet unborn the deadly effects of the “sins of the fathers.”

Get the picture?

Dear friend, what is the cathedral you are building as you chip and chisel and hammer away at granite blocks in your daily grind?

Please share your addition(s) to this list with the rest of your DWOD family in the comments section that follows.