The past few weeks have shown us that when human efforts fail devastation occurs and continues. Millions of gallons of oil have bled into ocean waters bringing a sea-version modern day black plague to the seafood industry. With 19 thousand barrels of oil spilling a day it has become the largest oil spill in US history. Most of the oily water lies off the coast of Louisiana putting an involuntary black coat of silence on much of the wildlife. As hurricane season nears there is debate over the varying effects of a certain sizeable storm. Some think that the oil would form a liquid barrier dismantling much of a hurricane's power for lack of moisture absorbed by the oil; others think that the oil would speed up the heating process of the sea waters causing a potential hurricane to be more violent and enduring. Who knows?

Certain things must be contained. Oil contained proves to be a source of energy. Uncontained, it is destructive and life threatening. Some of the very boats used in the seafood industry, now involuntarily placed on an indefinite hiatus, no doubt got their oil supply from BP. But instead of fueling their machinery it has ironically run them in the ground. These developments in the gulf show us the importance of keeping some things in the box, or in this case the barrel. We can get so accustomed to needing a box breaking, earth-redefining, life altering change that we do little more than spill out life threatening assumptions that kill rather than cure. For instance, judgment when spilled is usually harsh, devastating, and conclusive. Mercy, on the other hand, when spilled (as in the blood of Jesus) is cleansing, curing, and eternally calming. So, how about it? If we are going to spill something, let’s spill some grace and mercy. Let’s avoid the “killing spilling” effects of anger, malice, and accusation. And if we are to spill anything let it be what is applied as a spiritual spilling in John 7:38. “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in me this way, just as the Scripture says." (The Message)