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The tiniest initial toe-hold can accomplish great things----without dynamite!

By
Home Inspector with Charles Buell Inspections Inc.

Most people explode through life.

This is the approach of the volcano, mud slide and tsunami.

While that is one way to do it, there is also the approach where the “slow way goes.”  This is the approach where the wind and the rain gradually wear the rock down into sand to where it can easily be washed away.

I am not sure that there is a right way or a wrong way except in relation to what is necessary for what one is attempting to accomplish. 

If one is attempting to blow up a bridge because the enemy is fast approaching, and sure to overrun the forces of “good,” then perhaps dynamite is the appropriate choice.  If on the other hand that is not the case, and destroying the bridge would result in months of starvation because food could not be delivered----perhaps a slower approach might be advantageous.

The wisest of men and women know how to tell the difference.  I know I don’t and haven’t always known the difference.  Sometimes running ahead full speed only gets us to the end and we can’t go back and enjoy the trip.  We have missed all that was to be seen and experienced along the way because the goal was seen as more important than the journey.

Patience and time is all it takes

When we look at the time it took this tree to move and split this great rock the way it has, we cannot help but marvel at the shared journey the two have surely had. 

Dynamite, while spectacular for a moment, could not possibly have resulted in the same tales to tell that the rock and the tree would have----its story would have been quite different.  As the rock split, wider and wider, water turning to ice would have assisted in the project----making it easier for the tree to perform its task

How goes your battle with the rock?

Do you have patience----or prefer dynamite?

 

 

Charles Buell, Seattle Home Inspector

 

 

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WA State, Home Inspector Advisory Licensing Board

Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Mr Charles,

I judge it important that men and women first check for squirrels, and with squirrels, prior to getting out the dynamite to blast trees.

Nutsy

Dec 02, 2010 06:55 AM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Paul, yes, exactly----we often miss right what is under our noses

Jack, I think few can compete with the rock

Margaret, sometimes we just have to force ourselves I guess

Gene, it is interesting how it works like that isn't it?

Sally, yes---you can tell a lot about a person that takes the time

Don, having five myself there might be something to what you say---you certainly learn where to choose your battles

Sam, and most confuse "stubborn" and "persistent"

Ed, for sure---when you do have to charge in you had best be a very quick thinker

Jim, just save the dynamite for when Nutsy is in the tree

Nutsy, too late---I saw Jim's comment first

Dec 02, 2010 07:57 AM
Kara Casamassina
International Property Management Group, LLC - Aiken, SC
Boomers and beyond

i'm pretty patient Charlie!....but dynamite can be fun :)

Dec 02, 2010 08:18 AM
Jason M. Keith
Caliber Home Loans - Parker, CO
Equal Housing Lender

Patience is a .....   Heck I can't remember time to move on!

Dec 02, 2010 08:50 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

That tree beside a house would do the same thing!  That rock should not have planted the tree so close by.

Dec 02, 2010 09:01 AM
Donald Hester
NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA
NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Charles,

 Great thought, but a little bang here and there can sure be fun! But time and patience has it's place.

Dec 02, 2010 11:35 AM
Reuben Saltzman
Structure Tech Home Inspections - Minneapolis, MN
Delivering the Unbiased Truth.

I can't help but think about SEO while reading this.  

Dec 02, 2010 01:21 PM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Kara, well maybe BIG firecrackers :)

Jason, exactly

Jay, yup----stupid rock

Don, and to know the difference.....

Reuben, interesting for sure :)

Dec 02, 2010 03:00 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

All said, that picture is extremely unique.  Maybe it was a Sasquatch attempt at gardening?

Dec 02, 2010 09:21 PM
Erby Crofutt
B4 U Close Home Inspections&Radon Testing (www.b4uclose.com) - Lexington, KY
The Central Kentucky Home Inspector, Lexington KY

Your take on life is so deep sometimes that it scares me that I might be missing something.  Did you take the picture?

Dec 02, 2010 10:07 PM
Jim Allhiser
Perfection Inspection, Inc. - Salem, OR
Salem, Oregon Home Inspector

Erby, has a point Charles.  Sometimes staring into the rabbit hole that you live hurts my brain.  

Great ideas though.  Have you seen any old stone walls running through those woods?  Those walls absolutely fascinate me, the amount of time and skill......

Dec 03, 2010 12:55 AM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Jay, nature has a way with "unique" :)

Erby, yes---I only use my own pictures

Jim, lots of stone walls.  In Connecticut---and I suspect in lots of other places in old New England there are whole towns of abandoned foundations and stone walls in the woods.

Dec 03, 2010 03:25 AM
Alex Morris - Austin Real Estate Agent
Austin, TX

Charles - great closing!  Profound, to be sure.  And anyone who knows me will tell you the answer - dynamite! (not to sat that works for me, but that's my pick)

Dec 03, 2010 03:58 PM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Alex, I would have predicted that :)

Dec 03, 2010 06:37 PM
Erby Crofutt
B4 U Close Home Inspections&Radon Testing (www.b4uclose.com) - Lexington, KY
The Central Kentucky Home Inspector, Lexington KY

Tons and tons of old stone fences around here.  Several guys make quite a living repairing them after cars run into them.  Dry stone masonry.  I'll have to get you some pictures, Jim.

Dec 04, 2010 04:05 AM
Joseph Michalski
Precision Home Inspection - Lansdale, PA
PA Home Inspector

Well written and thoughtful, Charles!

As fond as I am of the dynamite approach, I can appreciate the other method - I just lack the patience to employ it.

One thing I have learned from my lifelong love of baseball, though, is that every season is a long story with a thousand twists and turns.  Enjoy it as each chapter unfolds and appreciate the rare but thrilling happy endings.  It's what has soured me on sports fans now, where only a championship is considered a "good" season and all other results are "failures."  I always appreciate the ride, and enjoy the scenery - even as I speed towards the end in every other way.

 

Dec 04, 2010 01:11 PM
Connie King
Sevierville, TN

How come you are so smart?   This is so insightful...  I hope to learn to slow down and enjoy the journey more.

Dec 10, 2010 10:44 AM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

I love the old new england stone walls----represent a lot of hard work for sure

Joseph---so true about sports----often the "minor leagues" whether it is soccer, baseball or basketball----is more interesting than the "big leagues"

Connie, not sure if "smart" has as much to do with it as using too much dynamite at times in my life :)

Dec 10, 2010 11:01 AM
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

Wow Charles! What a beautiful post. I read the reblog by Lizette and was touched by your meaning. I am the dynamite and I surely have missed out on a lot.

Dec 12, 2010 12:55 PM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Evelyn, we have all been there I am sure :)

Dec 12, 2010 12:58 PM