I live near busy railroad tracks.
This is not new for me.
I have heard trains long warning blasts from my bedroom windows before.
Right now there is an active train-crossing between home and work that occasionally stops me in a line as we watch graffitied train-car after graffitied train-car rumble past.
I bring all this up to say that the only difference between where I live and East Palestine, Ohio.
That was the toxic spill derailment the happened last year on Saturday, February 4.
I remember watching the Ohio governor’s press conference two weeks after the accident and it frankly left me sad.
Here is why.
It was a cover up.
It did not honestly address the real problems involved or the need at the time for a “controlled” burn of toxic chemicals. Health problems still persist for those unable to move away. Who decided this was a good idea? Even now there is still a lot of finger pointing.
I think, and perhaps I’m just cynical, that had this derailment happened near Ohio’s capital city, Columbus, or our nation’s capital, Washington DC, it would have been handled much differently, even if the same people were in charge.
There is a chasm that exists between people when they do not have a concept about what it means for all humans to be made in God’s image and sadly results in much of the callousness seen throughout history and that we see in public officials today.
One final thought or observation. The Ohio governor had two experts also speak at this press conference. One was a physician who was heading the public health recovery activities for the state and the other was someone overseeing the mental health crisis response.
Trust is earned and so easy to lose.
It comes to those who consistently tell and live the truth.
I’m not saying we can never make mistakes, but when we do it is wise to proactively come clean ASAP.
This doesn’t mean people should always spill their guts to everyone all the time, but still, trust and truth are a forged link.
Does not wisdom call?
Does not understanding raise her voice?
On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:
“To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man. O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense.
Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right, for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
Proverbs 8:1-7 (ESV)