The mediaeval story about the stonecutters and the cathedral builder has relevance to Trinidad and Tobago in 2019

“The story goes that on a foggy autumn day nearly 800 years ago a traveller happened upon a large group of workers adjacent to the River Avon. Despite being tardy for an important rendezvous curiosity convinced the traveller that he should inquire about their work. With a slight detour, he moved toward the first of the three tradesmen and said, “my dear fellow what is it that you are doing?” The man continued his work and grumbled, “I am cutting stones.” Realising that the mason did not wish to engage in a conversation the traveller moved toward the second of the three and repeated the question. To the traveller’s delight this time the man stopped his work, ever so briefly, and stated that he was a stonecutter. He then added “I came to Salisbury from the north to work, but as soon as I earn ten quid I will return home.” The traveller thanked the second mason, wished him a safe journey home and began to head to the third of the trio.

When he reached the third worker, he once again asked the original question. This time the worker paused, glanced at the traveller until they made eye contact and then looked skyward drawing the traveller’s eyes upward. The third mason replied, “I am a mason, and I am building a cathedral.” He continued, “I have journeyed many miles to be part of the team that is constructing this magnificent cathedral. I have spent many months away from my family, and I miss them dearly. However, I know how important Salisbury Cathedral will be one day, and I know how many people will find sanctuary and solace here. I know this because the Bishop once told me his vision for this great place. He described how people would come from all parts to worship here. He also told that the Cathedral would not be completed in our days but that the future depends on our hard work.” He paused and then said, “So I am prepared to be away from my family because I know it is the right thing to do. I hope that one day my son will continue in my footsteps and perhaps even his son if need be.”

Source: Girard J.P. and Lambert S (2007) “The Story of Knowledge: Writing Stories that Guide Organisations into the Future” The Electronic Journal of Knowledge Management Volume 5 Issue 2, pp 161-172.

.The mediaeval stonecutter/cathedral builder of the story did not only have a concrete vision of the eventual outcome of his labour, he also understood why building that cathedral was important and most importantly, accepted personal responsibility for his role, adding, “So I am prepared to be away from my family because I know it is the right thing to do”.

The late Lloyd Best is said to have opined about our Trinidad and Tobago under-achieving society that — ‘we are at the same time an UNRESPONSIBLE and an IRRESPONSIBLE society. The UNRESPONSIBLE, he said, simply had no concept of what being responsible meant. The IRRESPONSIBLE, on the other hand, know, but choose not to be'.

If Best was right then we urgently need to transform more of our stonecutters into cathedral builders.To achieve this we need to ask and answer two fundamental questions.

Every citizen must ask, am I a ‘stonecutter’ or a ‘cathedral builder’?

And our managers, leaders and ‘wannabe leaders, Lloyd Best’s “validating elites’, must ask am I building a team of ‘stonecutters’ or ‘cathedral builders’?

NB

i. Story Source - Girard J.P. and Lambert S (2007) “The Story of Knowledge: Writing Stories that Guide Organisations into the Future” The Electronic Journal of Knowledge Management Volume 5 Issue 2, pp 161-172.

Picture: Trinity Cathedral Port of Spain.

ii. A modern version of the story emerged in the 1960s as — John F Kennedy and the Janitor

The story goes like this. President John F. Kennedy was visiting NASA headquarters for the first time in 1961, shortly after he had made his May 25 historic moonshot speech challenging America to put Americans in space and on the moon before the decade ended. While touring the facility, he introduced himself to a janitor who was mopping the floor and asked him what he did at NASA.

“I’m helping put a man on the moon!”

Like the stone cutter 800 years earlier, the janitor got it. He understood the vision, his part in it, and he had purpose.

Maybe, Trinidad and Tobago needs its own Salisbury Cathedral or Moonshot challenge project.

Ends