I stink.
Those of you who know me understand that I stink at several things: soccer (known in most of the world as football); cooking (and a multitude of other domestic skills); and, encouraging my wife when she doesn't feel well. The list is actually much, much longer, but Su likes me to keep these blog updates concise and for once I am in agreement with her!
Today I stink in a slightly more primordial way. I have been working outside all morning and I have been sweating in our 833% Costa Rican humidity.
Unfortunately, as is recently often the case, we have no water today. This means NO SHOWER. Even more unfortunately, I need to help with a wedding in a few hours' time. Obviously, I am going to have to find some urgent solution. The thought of getting into my suit in this condition is not for the faint of heart!
I have been impressed this week with the fact that the Bible contains a great deal about smell and odors.
In Leviticus 26:31 God indicates that His obedient people allow Him to smell a beautiful fragrance - and disobedience keeps that pleasure from Him. In fact, Deuteronomy 4:28 tells us that false gods or idols are distinguished from the true God because they do not have the ability to smell.
In Daniel 3:27 the proof of God's miracle in saving Daniel's friends is experienced ultimately in the fact that their clothing had no odor of smoke or fire. God proved Himself to be God by doing some divine dry-cleaning.
I could use some divine cleaning myself!
Of course, our sense of smell can sometimes confuse us. Isaac was deceived by the artificial smell of his son, Jacob. Men were encouraged to ignore the allure of an immoral woman's perfume.
Thinking of which, as much as I would like to get showered now, what I ultimately want to be or have about me is a fragrance for "life to life." (2 Corinthians 2:16) How I would like to have people smell the aroma of Christ when I am around. I want to spend so much time with Him that His very smell rubs off on me.
Admittedly, a lot of Him would have to rub off on me today for it to be any help in my current circumstance. Still, Su is hoping beyond hope right now... so is that couple about to get married!
1 comment:
I'm enjoying the 'underneath' humour in your blog. The first time I encountered your humour (the u is in there purposefully) was when Neil Ostrander read to the staff there your account of a credit card machine eating your credit card and swallowing it. It was so fun and clever.
(I'm Mary Horst fromerly of the IT office in Canada)
Isn't 833% humidity called rain?
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