Scott Hassman is my guest writer, He used his (His) influence with Home Depot to get the Monarch House Project started ... Thanks for your testimony Scott.

How to start and avalanche


Sent an email at 10:27am on Nov 2 2009. The response came only 9 min later. That response might change lives forever. Many people have said thanks to me, applauded my tireless work and complimented me for doing such a great thing. Frankly, it makes me pretty uncomfortable to hear these things. What did I even do? One email only 110 words, including please and thank you. What credit can I take? What credit do I even want?

I have been very blessed and fortunate to have had some pretty cool experiences. Been to a Super Bowl, NBA Finals, World Series, even seen the Stanley Cup raised during the final game. Been in the pits during a Nascar race, a PGA event and attended the ESPY awards in a tux. I have some pretty good stories to tell. Who would have thought one of the best would start with an email.

It all started with a sermon on Nov 1 2009 from Pastor Chuck. He talked about volunteering time. He wanted us to sign up after Church to help in the kids ministries, or at the food pantry or with missions. Of course I am too busy to be obligated to give in this way. After all I logged over 125,000 airline miles and 50+ hotel nights this year alone. Spent time in 3 countries and 20+ states. Other people will take care of this. I will do my best to tithe and be involved to a degree I feel comfortable. I can only do so much… right?

Have you thought about how an avalanche starts? Well I'll tell you how.

There are two things needed to start an avalanche. One is a snow covered

slope; another is a trigger like a strong wind, a skier, or a person's voice.

One person’s voice? Does an email count?

I know that day I was touched by God. It took a pretty swift kick as I am kind of slow, but a touch none the less. I don’t remember much of the sermon, as I spent most of the time arguing with myself. Debating with myself all the reasons why I should not send that email. I know him, we had worked together for years, we have been indoctrinated with similar corporate values. I can’t email him, I don’t work there anymore, they don’t do these types of projects anymore, it could be very awkward. For once in my life I decided to LISTEN to GOD. If He says to do it, it is for a reason.

Only 12 months earlier I had no idea where we would be. The company I worked for had just lost its contract and would be closing; the 4 companies I owned were simultaneously failing in the worst economy in 50+ years. Would I find a job? Would we keep our home? I need a plan. I need to figure out what to do. Finally I realized I can’t answer this one. I can’t figure a plan. I will just have to have some faith. Somehow it turned out great, probably because I got out of Gods way.

Was He putting the snow in place for an avalanche?

12 months earlier I would never had sent that email. I am not totally sure why, but I believe I would have talked myself out of it. I guess I would have lost that argument with myself.

What would have happened to all that snow? Would this avalanche have happened or would the snow have just melted. What an amazing opportunity would have been missed for all of us.

The avalanche began with a call the next day with the Team Depot people with Home Depot. The email I sent was to the President of the Western Division of Home Depot. He said they would love to be involved and forwarded it to the Team Depot group. Sherry with that group, turns out, used to be my Assistant when I was the Western Division Garden Buyer for Home Depot. I told her all I knew, not much, about the Women’s resource center our Church was hoping to open. She informed me Home Depot had just started doing these types of projects again. See, for the last 5+ years they had focused on community playgrounds and not much else. Hmmm, what timing. Is it luck or more snow?

As the process moved forward the project grew. It moved from the donation of some product to $35,000+ in supplies and an army of volunteers from Home Depot to help, all at one time, revamp the facility. More snow?

Now Michelle Koranda gets Todd Holtkamp involved and the thing really catches speed! Now we have hundreds of people involved, services donated and unstoppable determination to see incredible things happen.

Is God waiting to start an avalanche in your life? Is he just asking you to add one snow flake?

Each step of the way someone added the one flake of snow to start another avalanche. Why did Chuck do that sermon that day? Why did Michelle ask my wife to help pick colors for the Monarch House? Why was Todd available to help in such an unbelievable way? Why had Home Depot changed the type of projects?

It was all snow. Each flake had to be laid to start this avalanche. Only one flake missed and none of it happens. Are we standing in the way of an avalanche that would change our lives and those around us in a great and glorious way?