The Different Paths of John

Written by Charles Cook
Published: April 27, 2015 at 3:04 AM [UTC]

Which is the correct way?
There are different paths, so does that mean there are no wrongs? Whatever works for you? So and so does it this way, and he plays well; therefore should I do it in the same way? My teacher says to do it this way, should I not question it?

---The GuRu and the Four Auto Mechanics---

John went to see his teacher, Guru, on the mountain top. GuRu said to John, “I want you to take four different paths here next week, one path for each day. This way you will learn.”
John received his orders, but he first had to put new tires on his truck. So that day he took his truck in to get the tires replaced.
They had a different auto mechanic for each tire: Ipac, Vise, Stan and Torq.

Ipac used an impact wrench to tighten the nuts. The impact wrench over tightens, so therefore the tire will never come off.

Stan used a standard ratchet to tighten the nuts. He guesses from experience on how tight the bolts should be.

Vise gets out a pair of vise-grips and tightens the nuts as much as he can.

Torq puts the nuts on first with an impact wrench, and then torques the bolts on with a torque wrench.

John is very happy with the service; he thanks the mechanics personally for their great workmanship and then goes on his trip.

On the first day John is happy to be learning new things and experiences. Shortly into the trip he notices a tire rolling ahead of him, and loses control of his car and almost hits a tree. John prays and thanks GOD for sparing his life, but sees that there is damage to the truck. John comes to notice that the tire was fine, but the nuts were missing .He walked down the path and found the missing nuts, and puts the tire back on the vehicle and continues his path. John thinks back, and remembers that Vise put the tire on. John isn’t happy with Vise.

On the second day John is happy to start his second path. Shortly into the trip John hears some noises and has trouble steering. John pulls into a gas station and they tell him he is missing nuts on his front tire and this caused the rim to be warped. After some time and cost they repair the tire and John continues on his journey. John remembers that Stan put that tire on. John isn’t happy with Stan.

On the third day John is happy to start his third path. But shortly into the trip John hears a loud noise. He pulls the truck over and noticed one of the tires is blown. No problem, John can fix that. When John tries to take the nuts off the tire, he is unable to do it. They are on too tight, so he puts all his force into it. The tool he is working with breaks and John smashes is hand. John calls for a tow truck and the truck operator loosens the bolts and replaces the tire. John also had to go to the hospital to get aid for is hand, and then he finally continues on his path. John thinks back and remembers that Ipac installed the tire, John isn’t happy at all with Ipac.

On the fourth day John is nervous to start the fourth path. Surprisingly nothing happens and he finished on time. John is happy with Torq, because his tire repair worked without fail.

After the trip John goes back to the garage and talks to the manager. He asks the manger why the bolts for the tires gave him a hard time. The manager says that the mechanics use different paths to achieve the same goals, and the basic principle is accomplished. The tires are on and they work fine. “Really” says John. John hands him the bill for the damages to the truck, time lost, towing and garage expenses, and medical expenses.

The manager is very unhappy, and fires the 3 mechanics, but keeps Torq on because he was the only one that learned from his mistakes.

John now goes to see his teacher, GuRu, on the mountain top. GuRu says to John “What have you learned.” John says” there are many paths, but only a few that don’t cost you time, injury and wasted money.”

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