Wednesday, May 26, 2021

“Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life.” (2 Corinthians 2:15, The Message Bible)

              The sweet scent of lilacs fills our living room these days. We have a Korean lilac bush right near a window. It is in full bloom. And though it never flowers as long as we would like, we look forward to the days that its fragrance permeates the room. It is my favourite flower.

             There is a lot that out-right stinks in the world right now because of this seemingly never-ending, dang pandemic. The loss of lives who matter is staggering. People have lost their jobs, their businesses, their restaurants and the resulting income they need to survive. Schools are closed. Hospitals are over-run and care-workers are stressed and over-worked. Long term care facilities’ have been a petri dish for this virus. Not seeing our grandchildren for months on end.

            Well, you get my drift… life stinks!

            But wait a minute. Take a breath. Take a deep breath.

            Let the fresh scent of God’s Love waft into your senses.

Catch the spicy smells of hope.

Inhale the fruity aromas of joy and laughter.

Sense the blossomed spirit of new life and new beginnings.

We have just celebrated Pentecost, this past Sunday, which remembers the giving of the Holy Spirit to Christ’s people. The Holy Spirit is that fresh, cleansing, delightful spirt or wind that breezes through our lives with the scents of life, joy, freedom, hope, opportunity  and love. The Spirit fills us with the sweet scent of Christ. We blossom as Christians under the Spirit’s care.

Paul wants us, followers of Jesus, to be a sweet aroma in the world around us. When we exude the grace and compassion that we get from Christ through the Holy Spirit, “everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance.”  (2 Cor. 12:14, The Message)

We can make such a difference in a stinky old world – a warm smile, a kind word, a thoughtful gesture, a helping hand, a forgiveness given, a hurt forgotten, an extra mile, a prayer lifted up or a meal shared.

So, open up the windows of your spirit, your heart, your mood, your mind, your very soul and let the aromatic Spirit fill the nooks and crannies of your life, so that you, too, may blossom in the world around you.

Hey, get a whiff of you, now!

 Dale