Michael and Sarah were running around the house trying to get the kids ready for school when the doorbell rang. Sarah opened the door and the carpenter was standing there with his tool box in one hand and a handcrafted wooden heart in the other.

“Hi, I’m J. Emmanuel,” he said cheerfully and handed Sarah the heart, freeing up his hand so he could shake hers. “I made this for your family.”

“Thank you! What a beautiful gift,” she said, trying to act calm amid the morning craziness. “But I’m the one who should be giving you a gift. You saved my husband’s life and I can’t thank you enough.”

“Oh, it was nothing. It was my pleasure, and I’m just glad we are starting to build something great together. Do you mind if I get started? I know it’s early but I wanted to get a good start since there’s a lot to do today.”

“No, that’s fine. Come on in,” said Sarah as they walked to the family room and Michael walked out of the kids’ rooms with clothes in one hand, a backpack in the other.

“Hey, J. Great to see you,” he said, not really meaning it. “You’re here early, huh?”

“I know, I know, I just wanted to get an early start today. I’ll come later from now on but today there’s a lot to do.”

“That’s fine; whatever works,” said Michael, although he was glad J. wouldn’t make this a habit. “We just have to get the kids ready for school so feel free to do whatever you need to do. There’s water in the fridge and I’ll join you soon.”

For the next 20 minutes Michael and Sarah frantically scrambled around the house trying to get the kids out the door on time to make the bus. They, along with the kids, waved and said hi each time they dashed passed the family room while the carpenter just smiled and waved back. When the kids had finally made their bus, Sarah walked back to the house with her husband and thanked the carpenter once again for saving his life before leaving for work. After she left, Michael just plopped down onto the couch in the family room and took a deep breath.

“Now I can see why you passed out on your run,” the carpenter said, laughing but also stating the truth.

“Tell me about it. That’s not even the half of it,” Michael said before telling him about last night and losing their biggest client. “I feel like I’m on a runaway train heading toward a cliff and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. I can’t tell if I’m racing to the top or the bottom, if you know what I mean.”

“I understand,” said the carpenter. “But you’re not alone. It seems all my clients and everyone I meet these days feel the same way. They are being bombarded with challenges and dealing with such busyness and stress that they can’t even think straight. It’s like the new plague of our day. Those who can manage it will thrive. Those who don’t will perish.”

“We’ll I’m definitely on my way to perishing,” said Michael before realizing he was listening to himself instead of talking to himself.

“It doesn’t have to be this way,” the carpenter said. “There’s another way, or what I call The Way, if you want to know what it is.”

“Of course,” said Michael. “My way is definitely not working.”