I was listening to a podcast recently where the host and guest discussed the permanence of man-made structures. They imagined what would happen to our cities and structures if we all disappeared. How within just a few hundred years, much of it would crumble and be overtaken by nature, and yet there are structures built thousands of years ago that stand to this day.
They correlated longevity with the building materials used to erect these ancient structures versus our modern techniques and materials. My immediate instinct was to conclude: concrete bad, stone good.
But the longer I sat with it, the more it dawned on me that although the material determines the longevity of the structure, it’s the intended purpose of the structure that actually determines what material the builder chooses.
The right material depends on what the structure is being asked to do and how long it needs to do it.
What’s It Meant to Do?
Take the Las Vegas Strip, for instance. As impressive as those structures are, permanence isn’t exactly a part of the long-term plan. Casinos are there for entertainment and comfort, and these aspects are quite tied to the technology of the day. Even the most beautiful and luxurious casino will become outdated and be torn down within 50 years or so to make room for the latest and greatest. Concrete will do just fine.
On the other hand, look at a cathedral. That particular structure serves a different purpose. It’s meant to symbolize sacredness, safety, shelter, stability, and certainty. It’s intended to remain for as long as possible to serve as a center of worship and service. Time to mine for some limestone.
Is concrete worse than stone as a building material? That’s the wrong question. The real question: What purpose will this structure serve, and how long does it need to serve that purpose?
Right Purpose, Right Stuff
Some relationships are meant to last for a season. Some organizations are places we contribute to for a period before moving on. Some projects serve their purpose, teach us something, and come to an end. And all of the above is perfectly OK.
The mistake isn’t using concrete… it’s building a cathedral with it. Or using stone to build something that never needed to become permanent in your journey.
Most creative people care deeply about what they do. That care can lead us to pour time, energy, loyalty, stress, and emotional investment into a relationship or organization before deciding what role it’s meant to play in the grand scheme of our career.
It’s a risky mistake to build a temporary structure out of permanent stuff.
Equally risky is treating something meant to last as disposable. The trust of your collaborators, your reputation as a professional, your skill set and learning habits, the body of work you leave behind… these all require permanence. They require patience to build and to maintain through changing seasons.
Wisdom is not always building for forever. It’s knowing what you’re building and investing accordingly.
Choose the Material Intentionally
Before you pour more of yourself into anything, take a moment and ask what you’re actually building. Is this a relationship meant to grow with you, or one meant to serve this particular season? Has this organization earned your loyalty, or are you giving it stone when concrete would do just fine?
Building for a season doesn’t mean building without purpose. Temporary structures can still be meaningful, beautiful, and worthy of your best work. They just might not demand the same foundation as the things you expect to carry forward.
The goal isn’t to preserve everything forever. It’s to recognize what deserves permanence, what doesn’t, and choose your materials accordingly. Your time, trust, energy, and commitment are finite resources. Build with intention.
If this reflection resonated with you, contact me. I’d love to hear what it brought to mind.
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