Sharing affection can be a germy, dangerous thing. So says the results of a recent Dutch study published in the journal Microbiome. The more intimate the affectionate display, the germier the exchange.
A similar study out of the University of West Virginia says that a simple fist bump is the least hazardous of contact displays of affections. “Knocking knuckles measured 20 times less germy than a handshake.”
A quick high five will trim 75% of the germs off those exchanged in a shake, while an actual handshake can “transport up to 124 million colony-forming units of E. coli bacteria — and that’s assuming clean hands. More bacteria changed hands with a firmer grip and longer squeeze.”
The Dutch study concluded that a simple peck on the lips will result in the exchange of over 1000 different kinds of germs.
But it’s the full-on French kiss that’s the killer. “Swapping spit for about 10-seconds transfers up to 80 million bacteria between lovers. The shorter partner in the smooch may take on even more germs because, as the researchers helpfully noted, saliva travels downward.”
This was, perhaps, more information than you cared to know. It just goes to show that even the most wonderful things we share among ourselves are flawed. But there was one kiss that was absolutely perfect. It’s described in Psalm 85:10 where we read, “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed” (KJV).
In the sacrificial life and death of Jesus, in that great show of ultimate love and affection, God came near to us, and exposed Himself intimately to our germiness. In that exchange, we infected Him with our sin, while He infected us with His righteousness.
So what’s in a kiss? Salvation!
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Source: “The Germy Perils of a French Kiss, Especially if You Are Short” By Liz Neporent, posted Yahoo! News, November 19, 2014, via Good Morning America