Words of Light and Hope from Muriel Rogers

Words of Light and Hope from Muriel Rogers

“Doors on, or doors off!”

“Doors off!” – we replied as we hurried across to the small helicopter waiting on the tarmac. Head sets donned and communications checked we left the ground in a cloud of dust. It was not long before we reached our target. Slowly the helicopter circled around a black, red and orange inferno, the gaping maw of P’u’u’o’o crater on Kilauea volcano in Hawaii. Leaning out to get clear views, we watched as the lava bubbled and boiled, little tufts of smoke rising as large viscous bubbles popped.

The lava was flowing over the edge of the crater in just one spot now. All the sides of the cone were a shining black where lava had              overflowed and cooled but now a new ribbon of lava was oozing over the edge and down the side of the cone as it headed for the sea. As far as the eye could see was thick forest. The lava stream was soon hidden, just the occasional blaze as a tree in its path was engulfed in flames, a swirl of smoke left behind highlighting its route. Sadly we didn’t have time to follow it to the sea and watch as it tumbled over the cliff into a steaming, boiling cauldron of sea water but we did have time to have a last low circle over the crater, cameras held as far out of the helicopter as we could before we found ourselves back on terra firma.

The lava in the crater was boiling, noisy and extremely damaging. The stream of lava was narrow, small, quiet and unnoticeable apart from when trees in its path were overrun and destroyed. This got me thinking of a comparison with words. These can be large, very  powerful and specifically directed words which can completely destroy. There can also be small, snide comments, sometimes just carelessly uttered with no harm intended but if they collide with someone they can destroy. Just like the lava, once the words have been released, they can’t be taken back. Be aware of your words and use them to support and build up, not destroy, just as the lava was building new land as it met the sea.