Pastor Ken
During our trip to Ecuador, we visited the renowned Intiñan Museum in Quito, a site famously located on the Equator. Although the museum is privately owned, it asserts that the government’s nearby Equator Monument is slightly off mark. Later and more accurate measurements have supported the museum’s claim of being precisely on the Equator. To demonstrate this point to visitors, the guide performed an engaging experiment.
First, he positioned a free-standing sink on the northern side of the Equator line, filled the sink with water, then unplugged the drain. As the water drained, it created a small whirlpool. To highlight the direction of flow, he also dropped a few leaves. Observably, the water rotated in a clockwise direction. Next, he repositioned the sink and bucket to the southern side of the line, repeating the process. This time, the whirlpool rotated counterclockwise. Finally, he moved the sink to straddle the Equator line itself. When the water was released this time, it flowed straight down without any swirling, clearly illustrating that the line on the ground effectively separates the northern and southern hemispheres.
This fascinating demonstration illustrates the Coriolis force, which affects the directional flow of water in the Earth’s hemispheres. In the northern and southern hemispheres, the Coriolis force pushes water in opposite directions. At the equator, these forces neutralize each other, causing water to flow straight downward. This principle, arising from Earth’s rotation, is also responsible for the formation of cyclones and hurricanes. Consequently, wind speeds near the equator remain relatively mild throughout the year, and cyclones or hurricanes are absent in these regions.
While some scientists question the observable direction of small whirlpools in household sinks and toilets—due to the insignificant amount of water and the influence of various design factors—this does not undermine the fundamental principles of physics. The Coriolis effect remains a well-established phenomenon, universally acknowledged by the scientific community.
In addition to quantifiable forces whose magnitudes can be determined through mathematical formulas, there are also intangible forces that we experience but cannot measure. Love is one such force. It fosters forgiveness, eradicates hatred, and transforms adversaries into allies. The power of love can soften even the hardest hearts, unleashing compassion and care.
One poignant example from World War II is the true story of Desmond Doss, a young man who adhered to the teachings of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, believing that love entails refraining from taking lives. Despite his strong convictions, Doss enlisted in the army driven by patriotism, serving solely as a medic. During the Battle of Okinawa, he heroically rescued 75 soldiers in just 12 hours without firing a single shot. Ignoring his own safety and braving relentless gunfire, he saved his comrades purely out of love. This incredible act of bravery and compassion was later immortalized in the film, Hacksaw Ridge.
Profound love—whether mature, balanced, or pure—often transcends human comprehension and defies mathematical explanation. However, to grasp such love, we must first embrace the divine moral standards, which embody true humanity and respect for others. Conversely, selfish and distorted love turns destructive, sowing fear and causing harm.
