February 5, 2021
Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. — 1 Peter 3:8
As you might know, the ‘W’ in the designation of motor oil (for example, 10W-40) stands for “winter.” Unlike water, which quickly turns to a solid at a certain point when chilled, motor oil gradually thickens as it gets colder. At some point, though, it becomes so thick that it prevents the normal movement of the parts around it (“freezes the engine.”) On the other hand, if it gets very hot, it can become so thin that it no longer sticks to surfaces, and fails to lubricate. The optimum temperature varies depending on the specific oil. Most motor oil is a blend (multi-grade oil) designed to adapt to a wide range of temperatures.
The SAE number (Society of Automotive Engineers) of an oil is a measure of its thinness: the higher the number the thinner the oil. The W number (“10” in 10W-40) is the SAE number at the freezing point of water, 32 degrees Fahrenheit. The second number (“40” in this case) is the SAE number at the boiling point of water, 212 degrees Fahrenheit. A “perfect” oil would maintain the same “thinness” over all temperatures — about 25W-25. In our climate, 10W-40 usually works well. In harsher climates, though, you might need a different type of oil. You might even need to switch oil as the seasons change.
Just as adaptability in you motor oil is good for your engine, adaptability in Christians is good for the machinery of God’s kingdom. We should strive for, among other things, those virtues that promote adaptability: tolerance, forbearance, patience, selflessness. Because the stress of our daily lives distracts us so much, we need to pray often for the Spirit to guide us to these things.
However, there is inevitably a limit to an individual’s adaptability, as with an oil. For that reason, it’s good to have others available. For that reason, we need to be in community with others whose gifts are different from our own, and whose collective gifts —a “blend” if you like — are much greater than our own. It’s why John Wesley frowned on solitary Christianity; it’s why connectionism is so important to modern Methodism; it’s why Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, “a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
I’m thankful to be part of such a community at St Mark. I look forward to seeing you all again.
Gracefully submitted,
David Petty