Regulating pressure
Browsing through the BBC News app on my phone, I came across an item recounting the recent eruption of the Shiveluch volcano in East Russia. The previous eruption had been in 2007. Here are some of the fallout facts:
- The ash cloud covered 41,700 miles.
- Villages around the volcano were covered in 3.5 inches of volcanic ash.
- Twenty-four hours after the eruption there was an earthquake which measured 5.8 on the Richter scale.
- There were no reports of casualties, though 300,000 people live in the area.
- Schools were closed, residents ordered to stay indoors and there was an aviation alert.
The television brings us face-to-face with images of molten lava flows, rocks and poisonous gases emitted into the atmosphere with clouds of ash, together with flames of fire and lightening – a terrifying scene of noise, darkness and destruction.
Currently there are 47 volcanos continuously erupting in the world today. The modern world has developed scientific monitoring of active volcanoes. However, people living alongside these destructive giants will know the signs of a volcano wakening up and proceeding on its path of eruption, that moment of final explosive force.
Don’t we all have moments when what’s going on inside finally comes out? Were that to be a minor expression or a forceful explosion, the origin will be the same, the inner disturbance of peace which, left unprocessed or even ignored, eventually breaks through. It could also be a spur of the moment thing. Whatever the cause or the reason, there is usually collateral damage.
The build up of pressure inside a volcano will eventually become too much and the volcano will blow, just like a pressure cooker if the releasing of steam isn’t monitored regularly.
Should we choose to live in the close vicinity of an active volcano, it would be wise to listen to the messages it emits. The most important plan of action is to remove oneself from the line of danger and to protect the area from any collateral damage. The pressure cooker, however, has a safety valve. As the pressure builds up the valve opens, the pressure is released, and the valve automatically shuts. This process continues until whatever is being cooked is finally ready.
The core of a volcano and the interior of the pressure cooker can be likened to us. What do we do under pressure? Do we listen to the rumbling and spitting and hissing within before the heat and boiling inferno reaches its climax. The pressure within the cooker is used positively. We can use pressure constructively if we learn to manage it. Too late if we haven’t learnt to monitor and release that valve. We can learn so much of handling the pressure within without letting it deteriorate to the explosive force of an eruption. Collateral damage takes time to heal. The Shiveluch volcano caused very little damage but in my research into other volcanos the damage was catastrophic and lasting.
The build up of pressure inside a volcano will eventually become too much and the volcano will blow, just like a pressure cooker if the releasing of steam isn’t monitored regularly.
Should we choose to live in the close vicinity of an active volcano, it would be wise to listen to the messages it emits. The most important plan of action is to remove oneself from the line of danger and to protect the area from any collateral damage. The pressure cooker, however, has a safety valve. As the pressure builds up the valve opens, the pressure is released, and the valve automatically shuts. This process continues until whatever is being cooked is finally ready.
The core of a volcano and the interior of the pressure cooker can be likened to us. What do we do under pressure? Do we listen to the rumbling and spitting and hissing within before the heat and boiling inferno reaches its climax. The pressure within the cooker is used positively. We can use pressure constructively if we learn to manage it. Too late if we haven’t learnt to monitor and release that valve. We can learn so much of handling the pressure within without letting it deteriorate to the explosive force of an eruption. Collateral damage takes time to heal. The Shiveluch volcano caused very little damage but in my research into other volcanos the damage was catastrophic and lasting.
Merle Sparkes
|
Copyright © 2014-2023 Halesworth Community Church. All rights reserved.
Registered Charity No: 1125417 Privacy policy |
|