J.E. Solinski
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Books
  • About
  • Contact
  • Resources
  • My Favs!

Not Tried or Tested . . .

5/13/2017

3 Comments

 
Picture
This past winter, California saw the end of its four year drought with an abundance of rain and snow––too much at times––resulting in flooding, maxed out reservoirs, and one very close call––the potential collapse of the Oroville Dam.

So what happened? Well, for the short version of a very long story it started with damage to the main spillway. Since water had to be continually released to make room for more water, the 250 feet long, 170 feet wide, and 40-50 feet deep hole could not be fixed. The spillway, in its damaged state, still had to be used though officials were hopeful they could monitor the flow and minimize further damage.

Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate, and more rain than expected came. Now the emergency spillway had to be used, and it had never been used since the dam opened in 1968. Within a day there was a problem––“the earth was eroding away in a path that could dig a canyon or tunnel underneath a concrete retaining wall holding in a 30-foot wall of water in Lake Oroville. If the hole grew . . . [it could cause] the failure of the concrete wall . . . resulting in a massive flood” (“Updates”).

This potential disaster, however, was not without a heads up.  As reported in the LA Times,  “More than a decade ago, several environmental groups argued that substantial erosion would occur on the hillside during a significant emergency spill,” and they encouraged officials to re-engineer the spillway.

For whatever reason, one most likely being that they never imagined “a significant emergency spill” ever taking place, the officials did not heed the warning, and the unimaginable did occur. Fortunately, this story had a happy ending. No break, no collapse, no loss of life.

Though we hope that we will remain steadfast and faithful in stressful situations or temptations, we really don't know how we will fare until those difficult times come, and the fate of the Oroville Dam gives us some insights as to why we sometimes don't. First of all, how we deal with the smaller issues determines whether or not our main spillway is in tact. Little cracks or chinks in our behavior, left unattended, only lead to more water seeping in until the hole grows bigger and bigger and our structure (integrity and steadfastness) are in jeopardy. When that happens, we collapse under the pressure.

Likewise, we too are often warned in advance (through God’s Word or another person) that if we don’t take care of a problem in our behavior or character now, when facing temptation or tough decisions, we won’t be able to resist and stand firm later. Unfortunately, like the state officials, we, too, often don’t believe that ultimate test will either come or that if it does, we will be able to handle it.

Whether we are dealing with earthly structures or our own spiritual integrity, we should learn the lesson of the Oroville Dam. Left unchecked, small cracks can lead to devastating ends.



“Updates: New storms approach, but officials confident Oroville Dam and spillways will hold up.” Los Angeles Times. 17 Feb. 2017. http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-live-updates-oroville-dam-oroville-dam-crisis-how-we-got-to-this-1487089359-htmlstory.html

Photo credit: Gonzalo “PeeWee” Curiel: for the Chico Enterprise–Record.



3 Comments
Linda
5/13/2017 09:59:19 am

Jody, yet again you've taken a current situation or event and related it to vital spiritual truths. Those seemingly insignificant decisions and choices we make all the time will some day tell the tale of our lives. May we be found faithful to walk with Him every moment. Thank you!

Reply
Jody
5/13/2017 05:59:46 pm

Thank you, Linda, for sharing your thoughts and insights.

Reply
Linda C
5/13/2017 06:37:28 pm

That's a great analogy, Jody.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Jody Eileen Solinski spent her career teaching in the California public school system where she enjoyed helping young adults take their place in society. A native Californian, she enjoys the outdoors and so loves living in Northern California where she can enjoy the beauty of God’s creation up close.

    Picture
    Subscribe

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015

    Categories

    All
    Anger
    Appreciation
    Art
    Attitude
    Balance
    Beauty
    Belief
    Books
    Bravery
    Bullies
    Calm
    Change
    Christian Bloggers
    Christian Living
    Christmas
    Cleansing
    Conflict
    Consistency
    Coronavirus
    Costs
    Demands
    Disappointment
    Discontent
    Easter
    End Times
    Evil
    Faith
    Fatigue
    Fear
    Fires
    Focus
    Foolishness
    Forgiveness
    Frustration
    God's Protection
    God's Sovereignty
    God's Timing
    Good Intentions
    Grace
    Grief
    Healing
    Hell
    Holy Spirit
    Hopes
    Hymns
    Hypocrisy
    Ingenuity
    Isolation
    Jesus
    Legacies
    Listening
    Love
    Memories
    Money
    Mornings
    Mothers
    Music
    New Years
    Opportunities
    Order
    Pain
    Patience
    Peace
    Perfection
    Perseverance
    Perspective
    Prayer
    Pressure
    Promises
    Purpose
    Readiness
    Reading
    Reduction
    Refreshed
    Relationship
    Relevance
    Relief
    Remembering
    Renewed
    Reset
    Rest
    Sacrifice
    Salvation
    Science
    Seeing
    Self-Centeredness
    Service
    Sin
    Sleep
    Spiritual Diet
    Spiritual Life
    Storms
    Strength
    Suffering
    Summer
    Talents
    Temptation
    Thanksgiving
    The Bible
    The Tongue
    Troubles
    Trust
    Truth
    Unity
    Water
    Weaknesses
    Wise Counsel
    Worry
    Writing
    Youth

J.E. Solinski ©2015