The Aroma of Larry’s

I had an appointment with my primary physician yesterday morning.  (A random observation,” sic” in the middle of a physician.  How appropriate.  I’ll probably start adding a “k” now.)  It was a “well” visit, one of those six-month checks he does.  Nothing to it, just answer a few questions, take vitals, and draw blood for tests.

When the nurse was taking my temperature, she stated, “You have had breakfast this morning.”  I was surprised it was not a question.   Then she said, “At Larry’s.”  Indeed I had.  I asked her how she knew.  “You smell like Larry’s.”    My embarrassed and astonished reply was, “I do? Larry’s has a smell?  I’ve never smelled Larry’s.”  She replied with a giggle, “I have a very good smeller.”

My “smeller” has not worked well for a long time.  More sinus infections than I can count over the years, and two sinus surgeries have pretty much killed all the chemoreceptors in my proboscis.  The good of that is I change a dirty diaper without much stimulation to my gag reflex.  On the other hand, the negative side is a lot of food flavors do not reach me.  But that is not what interested me in the conversation.

There is one more event that relates.  A couple of Saturdays ago, I had to go to the pharmacy at the end of the day.  The technician assessed me with, “You’ve been mowing the grass today.  You smell like gas.”  I would have felt much better about it if she had said grass.  But I had not been mowing the lawn.  I had run out of gas on my way there, and the gas container belched gas all over the place with I poured it. (This event may pop up in a future blog entry.)

Here’s the point, the people around us can sense what our lives are doing.  You may not look like you have not been “practicing your righteousness”  (Check out Matthew 6), but people can tell if you have been with God.  Be careful about practicing your righteousness (or lack of) because it is transparent.  You may not be able to leave a shadow behind when you pass by, but you will undoubtedly leave evidence of where you have been.

The Holy Spirit is intent on seeing that the aroma of the Father’s presence is noticed by all we pass.  But only as we live in the presence of our Father with perseverance.  A humble walk with God is apparent.  Such people are like a “city on a hill.”  So let your little light shine, or your aroma defuse.

Photo – Early morning view facing north from Haiti.