Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin

Sometimes items show up in my mailbox that I have a hard time believing. But the oil and gas industry often defies belief, and today’s item gave me pause.

Seems Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin has issued an executive proclamation designating October 13 as Oilfield Prayer Day. The proclamation goes like this:

Whereas, Oklahoma is blessed with an abundance of oil and natural gas, allowing the state to be a prosperous producer of these valuable resources; and

Whereas Christians acknowledge such natural resources are created by God; and

Whereas the oil and gas industry continues to produce countless opportunities for wealth generation for Oklahoma families; and

Whereas Oklahoma recognizes the incredible economic, community and faith-based impacts demonstrated across the state by oil and natural gas companies; and

Whereas Christians are invited to thank God for the blessing created by the oil and natural gas industry and to seek His wisdom and ask for protection; now, therefore, I, Mary Fallin, Governor, do hereby proclaim October 13, 2016, as “Oilfield Prayer Day” in the state of Oklahoma.

I sure hope that the good Lord doesn’t send down one of his earthquakes on Thursday. It might shake the locals into realizing that an understanding of science, proper regulation, and a tax policy that makes oil billionaires pay for the damage they are doing to the state might do as much good as all those prayers.

It’s important to remain vigilant about the extent to which the oil and gas industry extends its tentacles into our lives to prevent responsible management of their activities.