If that warning is ignored, it may lead to an expensive repair, or a new engine! Without oil, the engine seizes up.
Sad to say, I have had that expensive experience more than once in my car-owning life.
So, when yesterday, I noted that the oil light stayed on longer than normal, I took avoiding action, and added some engine oil.
Result - the oil light has stopped staying on, and the engine may survive another few thousand miles.
We often use oil as a metaphor of helping things to run smoothly, in human relationships or within an organisation. Instead of wasting energy and messing up the people involved, the oil of kindness and gentleness can make all the difference.
St. Paul knew that to be the case, especially in the most troubled and divisive church community with which he was involved, namely the Corinthians. Having spent several chapters addressing a series of destructive patterns of life within their fellowship, he gets to chapter 13.
' Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.' (1 Corinthians 13.4-7)
I often reflect on these words, and run a sort of spiritual MOT on myself, and our Church. By replacing the oft-repeated 'love' or 'it' with 'Richard' or 'St. Andrew's', I see where I or we are falling short. It is startling to see how 'love' would stop gossip, slander, back-biting, cruel jokes and much else which destroys a community from the inside.
In all these issues, we can know the transforming love of Jesus, helping us to be the sort of people who show his love to others.
That sorts out expensive repairs, before they happen.
Best wishes,
Richard
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