In a Split Second

I have been taking a ceramics course for over a year . There are many ways one can work with clay: rolling slabs and working with them, coil work, and fitting a slab over a mold are just a few. Using the potter’s wheel is another typical way to shape the clay. I have done the first three methods all of last year. I finally took the plunge after Passover (having no half-finished projects to continue on) and started learning to use the potter’s wheel.
Years ago I saw a demonstration of pottery making in a museum here, the potter using a wheel. I looks almost effortless, and within a few minutes one can fashion an entire pot. This is much faster than working with the other methods.
However, the downside is that it is not as effortless as it looks. A good degree of skill is needed, and while one can form a pot quickly, you can also ruin it totally in a fraction of a second. And often this damage occurs just when you are finishing the dish.
But aren’t a lot of things like that?
You can have a lovely friendship with someone, and one really thoughtless statement can ruin it.
One cutting statement can kill a child’s self confidence.
I am sure there are more examples, but I don’t have time to write more right now…..