Once, a long time ago, on a particularly rainy day in southern England, a somewhat bedraggled traveler happened upon three groups of men dragging three enormous, cut stones through the mud and muck. Their backs were bent and their muscles strained mightily.

Despite being anxious to reach his destination and get out of the rain, his curiosity got the better of him and so he stopped to ask one of the men what they were doing. The man looked up with ire in his eyes and responded harshly, “Fool, can’t you see I’m dragging this frigging stone through the mud!”

Abashed, the traveler quickly moved on, but as he approached the second group of men he couldn’t resist asking again. “I’m making a measly 10 pence a day.” the second man grunted, “But as soon as I earn 5 quid I’m quitting and going home.”

Even more curious than before, the traveler hurried on to the next group of men and queried again. This time he was greeted with a smile, “Good sir, I am a stone cutter, and I am building a great cathedral that will be a sanctuary for many generations!”

What does this mean?

Here’s a beautiful, unintended commentary from none other than C.S. Lewis:

If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. The Apostles themselves, who set on foot the conversion of the Roman Empire, the great men who built up the Middle Ages, the English Evangelicals who abolished the Slave Trade, all left their mark on Earth, precisely because their minds were occupied with Heaven. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.

Aim at Heaven and you will get earth “thrown in”: aim at earth and you will get neither.