I must admit that I don’t know anyone who wants dirty air, but it is hard
to find someone excited about having their vehicle smogged. Yesterday I just
got in under the wire with the Ranger, it passing magnificently, after a check
engine light had been on-tighten the gas cap stupid. But when it first failed,
it was because it still showed up in the truck’s memory, it hadn’t been driven
enough cycles yet to be erased, so 34 miles, freeways and city later, it
passed. We can all breathe easier knowing that, I know I will. And the
readings show the air coming out of the exhaust are cleaner than the air going
in-maybe we should all breathe more exhaust. Please, don’t. But watching the
tech do the test, it was interesting, it had been years since I saw an OBD II
test, the test for 1996-newer vehicles. And as we talked, we talked of cars
that failed, and why. Certain brands were prone to early failure, Mitsubishi he
said he had seen fail from as early as in the 80,000 mile mark, while some
Toyota and Hondas passed at over 300,000 miles. He talked of being a Chevy man,
but had seen them fail more than he would like them to, but wouldn’t mention
Ford, so I figured Ford passed better, something no self respecting Chevy guy
would admit to. And diesels now get smogged, but it is on a visual, something I
understood, but can’t explain. But today the air is cleaner, and I passed the
test. Until 2016...
The first time I was in Los Angeles was in 1975. This Jersey boy thought
he knew what bad air was, but was unprepared for what I was to see. It was
brown, and it was breathable, and it stunk. And my eyes burned, forcing me to
the beach, where at least the ocean breezes kept them cleaner. Today’s LA air
is much cleaner, tighter emissions for cars controlled by computers have done
its job, and we forget how bad it was. My only reminder going north on the 15
to Corona, and seeing the brown haze floating along the San Gabriels, reminding
me of what once was everywhere, but now is more controlled. So while watching a
Starsky and Hutch yesterday, you could see the LA air as brown, it really was
dirtier then, something we had all gotten used to, but accepted in lieu of warm
weather. 40 years later, I breathe easier because of the cleaner air, and my
smog test yesterday is proof. Let’s all take a deep breath and exhale saying
thanks!
Now LA is not exempt from being the only bad air city, they occur in places
you would not expect. How about the desert, Albuquerque? Clean air all year,
until it gets cold, and we start to heat our houses with wood, and soon a brown
film begins to settle over the Rio Grande, and settles there until a big wind
blows it away. Wood pollution, nothing knew, it s recorded it journals about
San Diego in the 1840’s, about brown air at night from fires, don’t tell the
EPA, or we won’t be able to have our beach fires, cook outs, or be warmed by a
real fire in our fireplaces....One of the most polluted places in the US of A is
also one of the most beautiful-Yosemite. Ever been in the Yosemite Basin in the
summer, packed with cars, the air is so polluted it becomes dangerous. And with
all the trees to clean the air, they still can’t keep up-until winter comes and
the cold winds blow it all away, along with tourists. And just when you felt
safe down on the farm, know the same cows that give us moo juice, also put off
methane gas in highly toxic proportions, that wonderful smell is also
dangerous. How much more natural can you get than a cow?
So it seems no matter what you drive, where you drive it, what you eat,
where you eat it, and where you summer or winter, air pollution is out to get
you. Unless you are a new car, and you put out better air than you take in.
And even newer motorcycles have catalytic converters, and are computer
controlled, but fortunately don’t need smog tested in California. But through
technology we have cleaner air, faster cars and cycles, and can get to more
places to pollute them faster than ever before. A vicious circle if you think
about it, and why many people flee to the country when they get the chance.
Back to the Garden, as I like to think of it. But there is another form of
pollution out there that is very rarely mentioned, and most don’t even realize
it-noise pollution. Background noise, white noise or whatever you wish to call
it, is there. And it is more noticeable when by its absence, for it is always
present. It comes from the electric wires, vehicle idling, factories, and even
buildings-think of all the conversations going in an office with people talking,
phones ringing, and printers printing-it is all pretty loud, but we are used to
it. And only on secluded starry nights do we hear nothing, a wonderful sound
after all day submerged in noise, and wonder what is missing? But with sound
comes verbal pollution, in the form of swearing, gossip, and harmful things said
to others about others. Remember your mother telling you “if you have nothing
good to say, don’t say anything,” that was noise pollution. Gossip about
friends at work, noise pollution. Tell stories about others-noise pollution.
It seems every time we open our mouth, what comes out is damaging to someone.
Yet the Bible tells us to “let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my
heart, be pleasing to you my God,” and then further tells us, “what is on the
heart comes out of the mouth.” Now there are some dirty words spoken, you can
only imagine the dirty heart saying them. And even thinking them is sinful, so
what can we do? Who do we turn to for clean air?
Turn to Jesus, and be forgiven. If you think on Him, you will say nice
things. If He is on your heart, your mouth will reflect it, and goodness and
kindness will be spoken. Not like the brother who wants to pray for the jerk
over there, pray for the man who needs love, see him as God sees him. And as we
see God, we will respond. If you think God is just a test to find fault with
you, your words and attitude will reflect it. But if you see yourself as He
sees you, you will be forgiving and loving, the reason Jesus tells us to love
God first, then our neighbor as ourselves, for no man loves his neighbor and
hates himself. And God loves us, first, so we should show love to others in
Him. Which is why He caused us to smile, you can’t get mad with a smile on your
face, and why His hands were open on the cross-can’t shake hands with clenched
fists. So try to limit the noise pollution today and show others love.
And watch as two things may happen. One it will get quieter, as so much we
say is wrong, and in the quiet we can hear God better. And also as we listen to
God, we repeat what He has told us, who doesn’t want to share Jesus once you
have met Him? So we can tell a lot about your heart, by the words from your
mouth. Clean air can start right now, it shouldn’t take smog test to prove it.
A wise saying says temper your words with salt, as you may have to eat them.
And since we are the salt of the earth, giving it the flavor of God’s love, we
need to give just the right amount, too much, and it’s uneatable, too little and
no flavor, but just the right amount, and it is beautiful and tastes
great.
With the tongue we both praise God and curse man whom was created in God’s
image. Put an end to pollution today, praise God more, and watch as the air
around you clears up. The attitudes of others change to you, and you can smile
in the adversity of situations. It is called joy, and it is
unspeakable.....wonder if that just happens to be a coincidence?
in quiet love with compassion,
Mike
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