In studying population growth I learned that there were 2 limiting factors to growth to keep in mind, density dependent and density independent factors. Density dependent are those factors that affect only a few individuals in a population. For instance, if you add more predators in a population, than the individual prey have more of a chance to be eaten. If you have more individuals in a population then disease is more likely to spread among the weak and old. Competition for resources becomes very important with Density dependent factors as well. For instance 1 pizza goes far for 2 people, but if there is only one pizza for 20 people the fight begins.
Density independent factors are those that will affect every individual in a population no matter what size the population. Whether there are 5 individuals or 1000 individuals in a population, climate affects them all. Whether there are 5 or 1000 individuals a natural disaster hits them all. Human interference can also become density independent for a population. A parking lot affects the entire population of squirrels, if their habitat is now asphalt.
I’ve been thinking a bit about this lately in our own little GES population made up of vivaciously unique individuals. Density independent stuff happens all the time to each of us. Internal natural disasters rage inside of us as we deal with pains or losses at home or in our hearts, the climate of each of our classrooms affects each one of us individually each day, as well as the hot climate here as it smolders outside leaving us sweating even as we sit and eat in the cafeteria. The funny thing is, with enough of these density independent incidences, it seems as though they turn into density dependent factors.
I’ve been bombarded with distressing situations lately both with friends back home as well as friends and teachers here. People struggling with their call to Thailand and teaching, people losing loved ones, a Thai teacher losing their dad, and relationships that are being stretched like a stiff rubber band. Then there is just the plain sickness that spreads through our community like a bad case of lice. Wow, all these things together have really put a heaviness on me and others as we listen to each independent factor. How do we share truth and have compassion? When is it best to just listen? When is confrontation necessary and how do we do that with love? I find myself wanting to run…literally.
The cool thing is that God had been teaching much during this time while reading Job, Romans, and Galatians, as well as talking with respected friends and family. Romans and Galatians have been teaching me about how much faith matters and not works. To remember that God calls me to worship Him and not man, to get my esteem from Him and not my friends. Paul chastises the Galatian church with passionate fervor not because he hates them, but because he loves them and so wants them to remember their first love. As I listen to people my desire should be to give them truth and not let sin slip by, that is real love. Man, I pray that they do the same for me! I want them to sit and listen to me but also to nail me on my sin and hold me accountable to His Word, not just in the big things, but the little things that so easily entangles me. To use our unlimited resource of the Holy Spirit and His Word to make all our factors depend on God. I pray the same for your population.