I am having a hard time believing that we have been watching the tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico for four full weeks, and only this morning did we have the first bit of partially good news – an attempt to siphon some of the oil into a tanker is starting to work.  No one dares to say this is even the start of a solution – it has just made the current situation a little less bad.  Meanwhile, reports over the weekend suggested that one of the reasons not as much oil has reached land as originally anticipated is because the stuff is lurking underwater, in enormous “plumes” – one of which might be as large as 10 miles by 3 miles. 

Most frightening for many, the spill is perilously close to, or may have already reached the Loop Current (see graphic), a powerful ocean current that feeds directly into the Gulf Stream:

Water flows through the Gulf of Mexico deep under the surface.  It enters with warm water from the Caribbean between Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and Cuba, loops south of Louisiana, then exits around the Florida Keys.  This could bring oil up the US East Coast in the Gulf Stream Water. This was mentioned a few weeks ago in this report, and now scientists believe it is already on the move in that direction.

A researcher tells the Associated Press that computer models show the oil may have already seeped into the powerful water stream called the loop current. A boat will be sent later this week to collect samples.

William Hogarth is the dean of the University of South Florida’s College of Marine Science. He says one model shows the oil already in loop current, while another shows the slick three miles away.

[UPDATE:  Check out this infographic... click on the picture to see it full size.]

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a piece that was picked up by a number of people – “How do you pray about an oil spill?” That concept has now been developed by others into a full website:  http://www.oilspillprayer.com that I urge you to check out and bookmark.  In particular, read “The Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Tragedy: How Your Church Can Help!” by Kendra Juskus of Flourish (http://flourishonline.org).  Beyond calling us to prayer, Kendra offers some very good suggestions about how to become more informed and even how to move to action if God leads you in that direction.  This is a sample of what is on offer:

A number of organizations are recruiting volunteers to help out with immediate efforts in the areas impacted by the oil spill. The links provided here will bring you directly to the volunteer opportunities provided by these organizations. Please note that experience relevant to oil spill clean up and skills associated with wildlife observation and handling are in particularly high demand. But there is also a need for folks to take photographs, tend databases, and staff phone banks, so check out these opportunities and see where you might fit in:

• National Wildlife Foundation Gulf Coast Surveillance Teams – Volunteers are needed to track and report on the impacts of the oil spill, support the wildlife rescue and rehabilitation effort, and restore delicate coastal ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico.
• Audubon Society – One of the more detailed volunteer registration forms available, which may helpful in determining where you can plug in.
• Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana – This aggregate of organizations is just asking volunteers to register at this point, with the understanding that they will be contacted when appropriate opportunities emerge.

Pray we must – but action is called for as well.

Let me know what you and your church are doing.

Related posts:

1. Urbana Dispatch – Final: Foundation for a Movement?
2. Water, water everywh…? Not exactly
3. What’s in a calling?
4. Encouraging news from the student world
5. In Praise Of Porches