The Great Blackout of 2003

It was ten years ago that we saw “The Great Blackout of 2003.” The following explains the cause of this event: When an overheating electrical transmission line sagged into a tree just outside Cleveland at 3:32 p.m. on Aug. 14, the events that would lead to the greatest power failure in North American history began their furious avalanche, according to the most extensive analysis of the blackout yet. The failure of that transmission line was crucial, because it put enormous strain on other lines in Ohio. Soon a utility that serves southern Ohio, with its overloaded lines close to burning up, sealed itself off, creating in very real terms an electrical barrier between the southern part of the state and the northern. What happened next, by this account, was almost inevitable. To the north, Cleveland, starving for electricity, began to drain huge, unsustainable amounts of power from Michigan and then Ontario, knocking out more lines and power plants and pushing the crisis to the borders of northwestern New York. First the New York system, acting to protect itself, sealed the state's border with Canada, the analysis found. But that only created a different, devastating problem: New York power plants, without anywhere to quickly send electricity not needed within the state, overloaded their own system. That in turn quickly led to a general shutdown — the last stage in the largest blackout in the nation's history. It’s odd how something so small could cause such great damage. However, that is often the case. It is that principle that we see in our reading this morning. Here’s what James has to say about one of the smallest parts of our body: Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. (James 3:1-6 ESV). If somebody says, “I hope you won’t mind me telling you this,” it’s pretty certain you will. One of the best ways to end a rumor is to ask if you may quote the individual passing it along. If the person says no, it’s possible that the rumor is just idle talk. If the person answers yes, you should contact the gossip’s subject to verify the story you heard. Also, if you like to spread news about others, ask yourself if you would want someone to quote you. A negative answer is a good sign you should keep your lips sealed on the matter. And a positive response should lead not to back-fence reporting but to up-front confronting.