Gravel seems rather insignificant, doesn’t it? Until you start to pave a road, that is! Likewise, stones seem to have even less worth. Until you start to build a house.

While visiting Yellowstone National Park, we discovered a pool of hot water in the Norris Geyser Basin, labeled “Minute Geyser”. It wasn’t very impressive, really.

At least not until we heard its story!

Apparently this pool, which was, in reality, a small geyser whose eruptions were neither spectacular, numerous, or predictable, had once been an impressive, predictable geyser. In fact, it had at one time erupted almost on the dot, every 60 seconds or so (hence the name!), with its eruptions reaching record heights of fifteen meters!

So what happened to this geyser? Why had its eruption patterns changed?

Apparently the park’s main road had at one time passed within 70 feet of this renowned attraction. Thousands of people admired it from their cars every year, and despite numerous warning signs requesting tourists to refrain from throwing anything into the geysers and hot springs, passersby threw rocks and coins into its vents.

Now, you wouldn’t think that one tiny rock thrown here and there would amount to much. But over time, these rocks and coins accumulated to such a degree that they clogged the larger, west vent of the Minute Geyser. The smaller, east vent, though still open, now erupts only occasionally, and its eruptions are far from being spectacular. Only the use of heavy machinery can unclog the west vent, but the price to the environment would be too hefty.

Still in shock over the Minute Geyser’s sad story, my wife noticed a kid, standing with his mother, throwing rocks into a hot spring. Not wanting this geyser to suffer similar consequences, she pointed to the sign that asked visitors to refrain from throwing anything into the geyser beds, and said, “Don’t throw things into the hot springs, honey! You could ruin them!”

The kid’s response was quite shocking: “It’s only a rock!”

“Yes,” she tried to explain, “but if everyone throws in just one little rock, eventually the geyser would plug up!”

The boy rolled his eyes and walked away. How long will it be before another geyser is forever ruined?

The obvious power of rocks reminds me of the power of words. We are admonished to use our words wisely, but we so often act as if it doesn’t matter. However, a negative word here and another there, and soon the ones we care about shut down completely. Is it for naught that the world’s wisest man tells us: “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” (Prov 12:18 NIV)?

Instead of destruction, God’s Word encourages us to bring life and to build up those around us: ” May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” (2 Thess 2:16-17 NIV)

How many pebbles have you thrown towards those around you lately?

PS: For before and after pictures of the Minute Geyser, go to: http://www.nps.gov/archive/yell/tours/norris/minutege.htm

Rob Chaffart