- Wayfaring Wednesday
- Posts
- Wayfaring Wednesday
Wayfaring Wednesday
Amish Forgiveness and There’s More Than One Way to ......
Sandra Burkholder
September 24, 2025
There’s More Than One Way to Crack an Egg
We’ve all heard the saying “there’s more than one way to skin a cat.” It’s one of those phrases that makes you pause—because who on earth came up with that image? Rest assured, the idiom isn’t really about cats at all. It’s a centuries-old way of saying there’s always more than one solution to a problem.
A Bit of History
The earliest versions of this idea showed up in English writing as far back as the 1600s, though cats weren’t even in the picture yet. People used sayings like “there are more ways to kill a dog than hanging”—gruesome, but not unusual for a time when rural life and hunting shaped common speech.
By the 1800s, Americans on the frontier seemed to favor the cat version. The colorful wording stuck, and the phrase spread. Even the French had a similar expression, proving that this quirky idea traveled across cultures.
Cracking a Kinder Image
Today, many prefer a gentler twist: “there’s more than one way to crack an egg.” Same meaning, less cringe. After all, eggs are familiar, versatile, and part of everyday life. Some people tap an egg on the counter, others on the edge of a pan, and a few even master the one-handed crack. Different methods, same result.
The Point?
Whether you call it skinning a cat or cracking an egg, the heart of the phrase is about flexibility. In Lancaster County, we see this lived out daily. Farmers rotate crops to preserve soil health. Small business owners pivot when one product doesn’t sell. Families breathe new life into old farmhouses in unexpected ways. In real estate, sometimes a house doesn’t move with one marketing approach—but with a little creativity, there’s always another way forward.
It’s a phrase that has survived centuries because it still rings true: when faced with a challenge, don’t give up—get creative.
What the Amish Can Teach Us
Most of us remember headlines about school shootings, but fewer recall one that happened right here in Lancaster County nearly twenty years ago. On October 2, 2006, a man entered the West Nickel Mines Amish schoolhouse in Bart Township, lined up the girls in the class, and opened fire. Five young girls were killed, five more were wounded, and the shooter ended his own life.
What made this tragedy stand apart from so many others was not only the horror of the act, but the response that followed. Within hours, Amish families publicly forgave the gunman. They visited his widow and parents, offering comfort. They even directed some of the donated funds for victims’ families toward the shooter’s family, recognizing that grief had cut through both sides.
The world paused—not just in sorrow, but in astonishment. Forgiveness that radical felt almost unimaginable.
Parallels to Today
Sadly, shootings continue across the United States—whether in schools, churches, or public spaces. Families are shattered, communities carry scars, and the headlines feel relentless. Unlike 2006, when Nickel Mines stunned the nation, today many people admit to feeling numb as one tragedy quickly replaces another in the news cycle.
Our national conversations often harden into debates—gun laws, mental health systems, politics. These are important discussions, but too often they leave out something deeper: the human need for healing, and the transformative power of forgiveness.
The Amish response didn’t erase pain. Those families still mourn, still carry loss. But their decision to forgive changed the story. They chose not to let hatred define their future. In a society where anger and division often dominate the narrative, their example continues to stand as a quiet rebuke and a call to another way.
Why It Matters Now
Forgiveness won’t stop violence, and it isn’t a shortcut around grief. But it offers an alternative to the cycle of bitterness that so easily grips communities after tragedy. The Amish taught the world that peace can be chosen even in the midst of unimaginable pain.
As we continue to face national headlines filled with loss, perhaps their response is a reminder for all of us: brokenness may be part of our world, but healing can be too.
And most recently, with the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk, our prayers and condolences are with his family as they walk through grief of their own.
Seeing the Bigger Picture: From Homecoming Shoes to Business Ethics
This weekend I took my teen stepson shopping for dress clothes for his very first homecoming. He was excited. We’d already agreed before leaving on a formal shirt and pants, so I thought we were on the same page.
He didn’t want to tuck in his shirt but insisted on wearing a tie. I explained that an untucked dress shirt looks more like you slept in your clothes, or that you weren’t giving it your all. He needed to impress — not just go “ho hum.” He listened, tested it out, and thought about it. Teachable!
When it came to shoes, though, that was another story. He wanted sneakers — only sneakers. He pointed to a pair he insisted were “dress shoes” because, as he explained, they weren’t running shoes. They weren’t for sports, so in his mind, that made them “dressy.” His definition was not mine.
Trying to make the point without a fight, I held up a pair of glitter stilettos from the women’s section and teased that maybe these would work. My goal wasn’t to push him, but to plant a seed that maybe “dress” is more than a personal definition. Still, he wasn’t budging. This wasn’t my first rodeo (he’s child number five), so I let it go. We bought the “dress sneakers,” and I kept the receipt. No argument. No concern. A good relationship mattered more than winning the battle. His thought process wasn’t wrong — just not elevated yet.
At home, he tried on the full outfit with his dad. They worked together on tying the tie. Then came the sneakers and the bright white Nike socks. He felt fine. My husband, however, was instantly bothered. All-black formal clothes with black sneakers (striped in white) and glaring white socks stood out — and not in a good way.
I suggested he check himself in my full-length mirror. He thought it was unnecessary since he could see his top half in his mirror and just look down for the rest. But when he humored me and saw his reflection head-to-toe, the truth hit him. The sneakers didn’t work. He slipped on his dad’s dress shoes, which were way too big, but suddenly he could see they looked right. Standing there, he looked down and said simply, “My socks are white.”
Without fuss, he borrowed his dad’s black shoes. No fight, no lecture. Just perspective. The solution was simple: seeing the whole picture.
The Bigger Picture in Business
That experience reminded me how often we fall into the same trap in business. We settle for “good enough” because it functions. We show up, we deliver, and we’re proud of it — but what if we’re missing the bigger picture?
I’ve heard people say, “I don’t care if that person is ethical, I just want them to get the job done.” Or, “I want the sly lawyer who tricks the other side, because that’s how you win.”
But here’s the truth:
Ethical people can be powerful negotiators.
Keeping your story straight is easiest when you’re telling the truth.
Respect often carries more weight than manipulation.
Real solutions come from skill and empathy, not scolding or trickery.
Just as I didn’t shame or insult my son, I also didn’t manipulate him. I simply gave him the perspective to see the bigger picture. In business, the same approach applies. When we guide with respect, clarity, and calm, we build trust — and trust wins more in the long run than any shortcut ever will.
Elevating Practice
Much of my own success in negotiations comes not from hardline tactics, but from showing, networking, finding common ground, and pressing forward with the areas that align. It’s about amplifying the mutual win.
Let ethics shine in your strategy. Let respect guide your negotiations. When you rise above manipulation and elevate the way you do business, you don’t just accomplish a task — you build reputation, trust, and long-term success.
Rise above. Elevate.
My tip: Mortgage Rates are going down just at a time where home inventory is high! This is a good time to buy if you have been waiting.
📉 Mortgage Market Update – Sept 22, 2025
The Fed cut rates last week, but mortgage rates barely budged since markets had already anticipated the move. The good news? Rates are holding steady after trending lower for two weeks.
💡 Current snapshot:
30-Year Fixed: ~6.0%
FHA/VA/USDA: ~5.375%–5.875%
Jumbo: ~6.375%
👀 What to watch next:
Consumer Confidence (Tues)
Jobless Claims (Thurs)
Core PCE Inflation (next week)
Bottom line: we’re heading in the right direction. If the economy continues to soften, we could see more improvement in mortgage rates.
Sandra Burkholder, EXP Realty
Licensed Real Estate Agent since 2000
Serving Lancaster, Chester, Berks, and York County, PA
Connecting you to your dream home and the heart of the community with a professional yet approachable touch.
Not intended to solicit any properties already listed for sale with another real estate agent. If your home is already for sale, then please disregard this message.
