Bacteria are not the first things I usually turn to for inspiration. But recently, I became a bacteria believer.
Last week, scientists announced that they had trained a microbe of bacteria to eat and grow on a diet of arsenic. Why is this significant? Life forms, at least as we thought before, are composed of six elements: phosphorous, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen and sulfur. Recently, however, scientists took a small microbe and put it in a lab mixture where arsenic was substituted for one of the core elements, phosphorous. Think about that. They didn't just substitute a different element, they substituted poison.
Dr. Felisa Wolfe-Simon, the scientist leading the experiment said, "every day I would hold my breath when I went into the lab, expecting to hear that the microbes had died." But they didn't. In fact, they did something extraordinary. In order to survive, they began to swap out atoms of phosphorus for atoms of arsenic. In essence, when the microbe couldn't find what it needed to live, rather than die, it changed itself.
With this one scientific discovery, we now know that life can generate in places we didn't think possible. In fact, it can survive and even grow in poisonous environments.
This hits a little close to home when you realize that these microbes of bacteria are from the same tree of life as human beings. Which brings me to the question: If a microbe can do it ... why can't we?
In reading this story, I am reminded of how often humans tend to use the excuse of "not getting what we need."
"I didn't get approval from my parents."
"I don't get enough love from my spouse."
"I didn't get enough respect from my boss."
"I don't get enough support from my friends."
And we love to use these experiences as excuses; reasons why we can't succeed, reasons why we can't move forward.
We all deserve to be loved and affirmed. But the truth is, human beings are far from perfect. We spend our lives trying desperately to get these "missing elements" from sources that aren't always capable of giving them.
Remember the microbe? When it couldn't find what it needed to live, rather than die, it changed itself.
Every human being was born with this same life force: an ability to adapt, the stamina to persevere. It's in every cell in our body.
What is it in your life that you feel you aren't getting?
What is it that the world isn't giving you?
As a newly converted bacteria believer, I say stop looking for life outside yourself. We can't change the world or the people in it. However, we can clearly change ourselves. Rather than look for life outside yourself, give it to yourself. If a microbe can do it ... surely we can, too.
For further reading, see http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/03/science/03arsenic.html.
Follow Rev. Susan Sparks on Twitter: www.twitter.com/revsuegrace
Christine Bork: Leading in Times of Personal Challenge
Rev. Susan Sparks: Finding My Way as an Ordained Comedian
Media and others take the bait..
This blogger suggests because of this research we should all consider eating life's poison and adapting to it internally... because.. "microbes can do it"..
and "We can't change the world or the people in it".
Scientists say "wait a minute this research should never have been published"
Embarrassed bloggers and reporters who ran with the hype probably agree.
And for sure many of them have learned to try harder to see what is what before buying hype and passing it on.
"But recently, I became a bacteria believer."
"As a newly converted bacteria believer"
So we see
"We can't change the world or the people in it"
is not so true.
The world and the people in it are changing and growing all the time.
It is called getting wiser.
Next step is learning to admit mistakes.
Just as the microbe has to adapt to the outside environment, so too we much adapt -but take a look around! Who wants to adapt at our eroding middle class, financial crisis, and global warming!? Give be a break! Should the day come that all our clergies rise up and call out on our political and financial leaders, I'll listen
But until then, you comments are nothing more than wishful thinking...
Personality, while part of ours is what we get, is also adaptive and can be deliberately changed by us.
It's all in how you train your brain to think about things and what you acknowledge as your perspective in life. Living in the present moment, CONSISTENTLY, plays a big part in that. So many of us are regretful of or longing for the past while being worried about the future. We miss out on life which can ONLY be lived in the present. Consequently, we miss opportunities to create moments of happiness.
I can either be sad that I don't drive a Mercedes, or grateful (happy) that my Honda drives me to work faithfully with ne'er an issue. (I neither want a Mercedes nor own a Honda).
Happiness, in large part, is a choice indeed.
Still hurts, just not as much and this post just made me smile. Thanks.