After the coffee (strong and black) comes the tea. I love mint with a touch of orange and cinnamon, well steeped, and as hot as I can handle. Before the sipping comes the deep inhalation. Something begins to open up and I absorb fragrant and stimulating molecules. I'm not sure which surrenders first, the mind, the nerves, or the muscles. All I know is that the end result is a peaceful condition.
Why think about this today, Tuesday of Holy Week?
Because, as C.S. Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity, we live in enemy occupied territory. There are always seeds of fear, doubt or distraction poking us. If they take root, they can make us wonder whether or not God can really show us the way to navigate the challenges that face us every day.
Serendipitously, (perhaps?) I began the morning with Martin Luther, and was drawn to his words: "But if He, as the Son of God, sheds His blood for us in order to redeem us and cleanse us from sin, and if we believe it and hold it under the devil's nose whenever he frightens us and plagues us with our sin, the devil will soon be beaten so that he must give way and leave us in peace."
What a graphic image! We hold our belief under the devil's nose, and divine aromatherapy takes over so that all that encroaches upon our peace must give way. We are left in a condition of wholeness -- made new in whatever way God knows we need most.
Aahh... breathe in deeply!
2 comments:
Ah yes! I have read over the years about how sensitive we are to smells and how a certain smell can actually trigger memories. . . cologne, flowers, cleaning supplies! :) What a neat thought to think about how our faith has a smell to it! Remember how Larry Foster also said that "people can smell something in the air when they first walk into a church whether it's a place they want to be" (my paraphrase). Thanks for this!
It is amazing to think of how powerfully the sense of smell has been linked to scenes and practices of faith. When Mary anointed Jesus' feet with oil and wiped his feet with her hair, the fragrance of the oil filled the entire room. The Psalmist sang to the Lord, "Let my prayer rise before you as incense" (appealing to sight, smell, ritual and symbol).
I am not insensitive to people who suffer from allergies and asthma, and I do think we need to let folks with allergies know when there may be something present that will irritate their system. Still, I think the church has lost something as we have become more "sterile" thereby avoiding the use of scented oil or incense during praying or healing. Next thing you know it will be silk flowers at Easter -- Oh My!
Post a Comment