Rectitude and the Sandcastle: A Lesson from the Shore

Dear friends, today I’d like to share a tale from my youth, a simple story with a profound lesson about rectitude. It’s a story about building a sandcastle, but as you’ll see, it’s about so much more.

The Sandcastle

One summer, when I was about your age, my family and I took a trip to the beach. I remember the sun warming my skin, the smell of the salty sea air, and the feeling of the sand beneath my feet. I decided to build a sandcastle, a grand fortress that would stand against the incoming tide.

As I worked, a young boy approached me. He was smaller than me, and he watched in awe as my castle took shape. He asked if he could help, and I agreed. We worked together, shaping the towers and walls, digging the moat. It was a masterpiece.

The Temptation

But then, the boy had an idea. He wanted to take a shortcut. He suggested we use some discarded plastic bottles to reinforce the walls. It would make our job easier, he said. But I knew it wasn’t right. It wasn’t fair to the beach, to the sea, or to the other people who would come after us.

The Lesson

I explained to the boy that taking shortcuts might seem like a good idea at the moment, but in the long run, it’s not the right thing to do. Rectitude, I told him, is about doing what’s right, even when it’s hard, even when no one is watching.

We removed the plastic bottles and continued to build our castle with just sand and water. It was harder, yes, but it was also more rewarding. And when the tide came in and washed our castle away, we knew we had done the right thing.

Conclusion

So, my friends, remember this: in life, as in sandcastle building, it’s not just about the end result. It’s about the process, the choices we make along the way. It’s about rectitude. And it’s about knowing that, even when our sandcastles are washed away, we can always build again, with integrity and pride.

Until next time,

Kev