Sandcastles - Max Lucado

Hot sun. Salty air. Rhythmic waves.
A little boy is on the beach.

On his knees he scoops and packs the sand with plastic shovels into a bright red bucket.
Then he upends the bucket on the surface and lifts it.
And, to the delight of the little architect, a castle tower is created.

All afternoon he will work.
Spooning out the moat.
Packing the walls.
Bottle tops will be sentries.
Popsicle sticks will be bridges.
A sandcastle will be built.

Big city.
Busy streets.
Rumbling traffic.
A man is in his office.

At his desk he shuffles papers into stacks and delegates assignments.
He cradles the phone on his shoulder and punches the keyboard with his fingers.
Numbers are juggled and contracts are signed and much to the delight of the man,
a profit is made.

All his life he will work.
Formulating the plans.
Forecasting the future.
Annuities will be sentries.
Capital gains will be bridges.
An empire will be built.

Two builders of two castles.
They have much in common.

They shape granules into grandeurs.
They see nothing and make something.
They are diligent and determined.
And for both the tide will rise and the end will come.

Yet, that is where the similarities cease.

For the boy sees the end while the man ignores it.
So, one is prepared and one isn't.
One is peaceful while the other panics.
As the waves near, the wise child jumps to his feet and begins to clap.

There is no sorrow.
No fear.
No regret.

He knew this would happen.
He is not surprised.
And when the great breaker crashes into his castle and his masterpiece is sucked into the sea, he smiles.

He smiles, picks up his tools, takes his Father's hand, and goes home. =)