“May we not feel, that in the virus, in their merging with the cellular genome and reemerging from them, we observe the units and process which, in the course of evolution, have created the successful genetic patterns that underlie all living cells?” – Nobel laureate, Salvador Luria
“Viruses are ancient. They are our ancestors. They have billions of years of evolutionary history and experience on this earth and far predate both plants and animals. Viruses co-evolved along with bacteria, long before we arrived. In fact, viruses and bacteria share a common ancestor that lived around 3.4 billion years ago, not long after life first emerged on the planet. From this single cell, bacteria evolved in the direction of increasing complexity, while viruses took the opposite approach; they have gradually shed genes to become increasingly more simple. And, all the while, they’ve been changing, adapting, altering themselves to accommodate the climate, temperatures, atmosphere and available hosts for the purpose of reproducing.” – Way of the Wild Heart by Gail Faith Edwards
COVID-19 – A virus’s core of genetic material (DNA or RNA), is surrounded by a protective coat called a capsid which is basically protein. Sometimes the capsid is surrounded by an additional spiky coat called an envelope. Coronavirus has this spiky envelope and under the microscope; it looks like a ball that has its entire surface covered with spikes. The spikes help it to attach to the cells inside the lungs, which is where it wants to go. In fact, that is the one and only place the coronavirus can do its thing; it is that specific. It needs to get inside your lungs to reproduce. Once attached there, it gets comfortable, takes off its coat, bares its teeth and gets down to work. It begins to put information into the cells that allows it to make “photocopies” of itself and the virus begins to replicate. That’s one of its main objectives.
Our objective is to RESIST!
The Rev. Kevin Murriel, senior pastor of Cascade United Methodist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, wrote an article The Ten Commandments for Coronavirus (COVID-19) Prevention in Faith Communities.
You can read the full article at https://www.epaumc.org/news-information/2020/03/the-ten-commandments-for-coronavirus-prevention-in-faith-communities/
THOU SHALL NOT PANIC
THOU SHALL CLEAN THY HANDS REGULARLY AND THOROUGHLY
THOU SHALL ENGAGE IN SOCIAL DISTANCING
THOU SHALL MAKE SANITIZER AVAILABLE
THOU SHALL LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AND CARE FOR THYSELF
THOU SHALL PUT HAND WASHING SIGNS IN RESTROOMS
THOU SHALL NOT DISCRIMINATE
THOU SHALL BE CONSIDERATE OF VULNERABLE POPULATIONS
THOU SHALL BE WISE WITH TRANSPORTATION
THOU SHALL PRAY
At this time, we are called to be aware, be vigilant, be mindful, be present and be helpful. Get into Lent! Use this time to rest, restore, maybe work on a project that you’ve put aside. Start some seeds. And, attend carefully to nourishment of body, mind, and spirit.
“Remember, it’s about prevention, so don’t panic. This, too, shall pass.” – Rev. Kevin Murriel