BIODEGRADABLE OR RESTORABLE!
In the 1960's, I worked as a stenographer for the H. I. Thompson Company in California. I worked in the Engineering Testing Laboratory, where we performed tests, made prototypes and even type classifications were completed. Of course all I did was type up the reports. One of the company subsidiaries, Imperial Coffins sent a request into the Chemical Engineering department. Many custodial customers were concerned about their loved ones placed in the ground where the coffin and body decay. They were requesting something that would preserve their loved ones for a much longer time.

After about six months of testing and eliminating it was concluded that everything is biodegradable and would eventually rot and decay, including metals and iron. The only thing that was substantially strong enough to survive the elements was concrete; hence the cement blocks that house the coffin became part of the burial process.

Currently, our world is concerned about all of the products that are thrown into the garbage dumps, that corrode and contaminate our environment. We are worried about the garbage that pollute the air and the grounds for hundred's of years; even though the 600 page report said, everything eventually will rot and decay; melting into the ground to be tilled again.

Plastics are supposedly one of the greatest environmental hazards of our time. Plastics which come in the form of bottles, containers, diapers, bags, clothing, shoes, furniture; cosmetics; you name it, we have it and it is made from plastics. If we were to eliminate all plastics we would be back in the 1500's surviving on our wits alone.

It would be a miraculous thing if we could actually reverse the aging process by taking products that could restore us to our youthful, more beautiful state. We take medicines to reinvigorate us! We use new gimmicks by taking a tiny needle with steroids or the like and pump it into our wrinkles around our eyes; around our lips and even the lips themselves. Of course the restoration doesn't last long and so you are now locked into doing it every so often, so you can retain the youthful appearance created by plastics.

Medical science is amazing today! With the use of prostheses those without legs can walk again; those without arms or hands can manipulate somewhat restrained, but functional. Internal organs can be replaced with live organs or tissues that have been received from willing donors who have died. Our own body tissues can be moved from one part of the body to restore another part of the body. I had an artery unclogged by a stint being put in. Amazing!

Our world worries about many things and passes law upon law to take care of global warming; the energy crisis; the environmental emergencies; and if the cartoon character, 'Henny Penny' were here it would be that the sky is falling. Maybe it is and it hasn't been found out yet!

I believe that God has put all things on this earth for our use. Man is not quick in finding these things but when they do, it opens all kinds of possibilities. God put all the elements out there to create all the things that man has come to invent. Man believes they are the creator and forgets that God had previously put all the components together and then sat back and waited for man to realize his potential. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made." John 1:1-3 (KJV)

As for being biodegradable, God says the body returns to dust; the soul lives forever! Therefore our bodies are meant to be biodegradable but our souls need a home for eternity. Because our soul is not biodegradable we should be concerned about it; "Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator." 1 Peter 4:19 Our souls yearn for our keeper in Heaven! Jane Ann