Tuesday; January 18

I assume most people of heard the adage of “slower than molasses in January”, but have you ever heard of the Great Molasses Flood of 1919 that killed 21 people in Boston? On January 15, 1919 a storage tank containing 2 million gallons of molasses burst and sent a wave of the goo some 15 to 40 feet high and 160 feet wide through the city. The speed with which the liquid traveled leveled buildings and destroyed automobiles, but the most tragic impact was that almost two dozen people were killed and 150 injured. It’s hard to believe, but something that seemed so sweet (and slow) created a tragedy that haunted the city for a long time.

While this story seems almost surreal, it’s truth reminds us that seemingly innocent situations can cause serious problems if we aren’t careful. It is tempting to look at potential dangers and discount them because, after all, what’s the worst that could happen. Allowing a bit of immorality to slip in here or giving into some hate there can’t hurt us, can it? Ignoring spiritual responsibilities in the midst of a pandemic or a recession is okay because we’ll always have time to get thing right later, right? Unfortunately, bad things can happen when and where they are least expected.

Whether things move at lightning speed or slower than molasses in January, let’s remember to protect ourselves from evil. When we do, we will always be ahead of the wave of destruction.

Think About It!

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