I built my house on the Sands of Time,
A house that I built to stay;
But the tide came in-as the tide will come,
And it washed the sands away.
Then my house fell down, as a house will fall,
And hope went out with the tide,
But I built again, as a man will build,
If he be a man of pride.
Then came the storm with the fierce whirlwind,
And my house was wrecked again.
And I stood and looked at my labor lost,
And it all seemed so in vain.
But I built again in another place-
Where the storm and the tide came not,
And I felt safe in my new strong house-
But one thing I forgot.
It was the flames with their red-hot toungs,
That came in the still of the night,
And they ate it up-as flames will eat,
Though I strove with all my might.
And again I looked at the house that was,
Then knew it was not to be,
For a well built house won't fall three times,
When built for eternity.
Now why should I build a house three times,
And why should it three times fall?
Were it better I built a house that falls
Than never to build at all?
Then came a thought from the Great Somewhere,
I had not followed the rules,
For a well built house won't fall three times,
When built with the Master's tools.
So I built again with the Master's tools,
The Level, the Plumb and the Square,
Each ashler hewn from the Rock of Faith,
Was polished and laid with care;
And the plans I used were Plans of Life,
And my house it faced the sun,
Now I dwell therein as a man should dwell,
When Craftsman's work's well done.
by Bro. Herbert N. Farrar
