S.A.L.T.

Introduction

Have you ever thought about the conditions or properties necessary for life to exist on Earth?

What if the position of the Earth changed? — If the Earth were any closer to the Sun, we would be incinerated. If it were any farther away, we would freeze. We currently exist in the “Goldilocks zone”: not too hot, not too cold.

What if gravity was suddenly switched off? — Everything would move: buildings, houses, cars, trees, you name it. The atmosphere would also disappear. Your ears would rupture and oxygen would disappear.

What if the oceans suddenly disappeared? — Boats in the mid ocean would face a terrifying fall of around 2.3 miles. Essentially all of marine life would die. The density of the atmosphere would significantly decrease, causing places at sea level to experience the equivalent of the elevation of Chile’s highest mountains. For those who were already at high elevations, it would be like living in the “death zone” on Mount Everest. The water cycle would break down so that even the remaining lakes and rivers would dry up. Cloud cover would be gone and the Earth would experience the full force of the sun. Ocean levels would plummet due to the absence of phytoplankton which produce about two-thirds of the world’s oxygen. This, combined with the extreme heat, would cause vegetation to dry up, vast wildfires, lack of food, and ultimately the loss of all human life.

Now, you might be thinking, “No Ethan, you weirdo, I’ve never thought about any of those things." Well, too bad, you get to think about them today. Everything I just mentioned might be hard to imagine because we view it as something big. If all the oceans disappeared, we would notice immediately. If gravity was switched off, we would notice immediately. What about little things though?

For instance, what about salt? — You guessed it, we would all die. For being such a seemingly small thing, salt plays a vital role in our daily lives. It works as a preservative, keeping foods from going rotten longer. Even in an era of refrigeration, salt is necessary. In meat, it acts as a binding agent and improves the tenderness. In bread, it strengthens the gluten allowing the dough to expand without tearing. It even helps to produces different varieties and textures of cheese. Now, you might say, “Well, that would all suck, but that’s not world ending.” Well, without the preservative qualities of salt, many people without access to refrigeration would die. Our vast variety of foods would decrease, and everything we could eat would be bland. Salt allowed for the great ocean voyages which birthed America, and in turn, other nations. Without salt, we likely wouldn’t be here. Salt is necessary for our bodies to function: it helps our cells absorb nutrients, aids in digestion, enables the transmission of nerve impulses, and so much more.

S.A.L.T.

S — Scripturally Secured

A — Aggressively Ambitious

L — Lovingly Longing

T — Truthfully Transparent

I. S — Scripturally Secured

A.

II. A — Aggressively Ambitious

A.

III. L — Lovingly Longing

IV. T — Truth Tellers