STAINS

Stain

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A stain is a discoloration that can be clearly distinguished from the surface, material, or medium it is found upon. Stains are caused by the chemical or physical interaction of two dissimilar materials. Stains are used intentionally in a variety of fields, including in research (biochemical staining), technology (metal staining), and art (wood staining, stained glass.)

 Formation

There can be intentional stains (such as wood stains or paint)[1], indicative stains (like food coloring or adding a substance to make bacteria visible under a microscope)[2], natural stains (such as rust on iron or a patina on bronze)[3], and accidental stains (like spilling ketchup or wine [4] on your shirt.) While the types of stains are very different in application, they all form in the same basic ways:

The primary method of stain formation is surface stains, where the staining substance is spilled out onto the surface or material and is trapped in the fibers, pores, indentations or other capillary structure of that surface.[1] The material that is trapped coats the underlying material, and the stain reflects back light according to its own color. Applying paint, spilled food, and wood stains are of this nature.[5]

A secondary method of stain involves a chemical or molecular reaction between the material and the staining material. Many types of natural stains fall into this category. Finally, there can also be molecular attraction between the material and the staining material, involving being held in a covalent bond and showing the color of the bound substance.[6]

Different types of material can be stained by different substances, and stain resistance is an important characteristic in modern textile engineering.

In many cases, stains can be affected by heat , and may become reactive enough to bond with the underlying material. Extreme heat, such as from ironing or dry cleaning, can cause a chemical reaction on an otherwise removable stain, turning it into a chemical compound that is impossible to remove.

One of my favorite poets, Merritt Malloy, once wrote "Arguments stain me".  I have always found this to be such a simple but profound truth.  People also stain us and sometimes it is a lot like the definitions given above.

You have intentional stains where someone has decided you have to believe or feel the way they do and when you refuse they try to stain you through what ever method has been used on them, for we are a product of the people and ideas that have touched our lives.  Which is why we have to be so careful of stains, aware of them and how they can slowly creep into our lives to poison us with, their truths.

Surface stains are the product of intentional stains.  When we hold onto others issues and problems, instead of turning them over to God the evidence will eventually show in our lives, on our faces and in our actions.  Though it often involves letting go of people you love, sometimes it is a choice we have to make so we do not carry their stains and become like them.

Chemical or reactive stains occur when through the heat of our anger and hurt we hold onto others words or deeds.  We seal these stains into our hearts allowing them a place they have no right to and we should cast them out before we are permanently scarred by these stains.