'Under the Hood'
“We Each Have At Least One”
We each have at least one—if we own a vehicle with a conventional engine; those with an electric car do not have one.
What is it? A Catalytic Converter.
The question is: “What does the catalytic converter do, and how does it work?”
According to Wikipedia:
A catalytic converter is an exhaust emission control device which converts toxic gases and pollutants in exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine into less-toxic pollutants by catalyzing a redox reaction. Catalytic converters are usually used with internal combustion engines fueled by gasoline or diesel, including lean-burn engines, and sometimes on kerosene heaters and stoves.
According to my research, a catalytic converter works:
Inside the converter, the gases flow through a dense honeycomb structure made from ceramic and coated with the catalysts. The honeycomb structure allows the gases to contact a bigger area of catalyst at the same time, thus they are converted more rapidly and efficiently. One type of converter tackles the engine’s production of nitrogen oxide via a chemical process called reduction or removing oxygen. This reduces the nitrogen oxide into nitrogen and oxygen: the harmless gases are already occurring in the air around us.
Communities across Canada (and world-wide) have seen the rise of groups such as “One Hundred Women Making a Difference”, “One Hundred Men Making a Difference”, or “One Hundred Professionals Making a Difference”. Recently, I became aware of such a group based out of Oceanside, here on Vancouver Island. This group is a gathering of youth and referred to as “100 Youth Being a Catalyst for Change”.
The theory (for adults) is that 100 people each contributing $100 each a month can make a difference in their local community—such as the charitable donations given a variety of needs within a local community.
The theory is the same for the youth. However, the amount contributed monthly is $10.00. Every two or three months, the group of youth gathers to distribute their funds!
We can all do the math.
These groups are catalysts for making a difference within a community, though the theory is not new. Parish churches have been doing this for centuries, and St. John’s, Duncan is no exception. Every month, we have a special offering envelope for donations directed to a special need in the Valley, on Vancouver Island, or to a global cause.
The Catalytic Converter, and how it works, is a great metaphor for the mission of the Church—lived out over the centuries—taking that which needs help and giving it a hand up—in many ways, giving life to people.
The function of the converter is to change polluted air into oxygen. Oxygen is life giving.
The mission of the Church is to give life.
Blessings,
Archdeacon Brian+
photo:
'Under the Hood'
Office 365
