Makes Sense…

Makes Sense…

I find it amazing how our senses work. Each one of us have a sense that is better than the others.  Whether it be your sight, your smell, your hearing, your taste or your touch.  The one I am writing on today is the sense of smell.  I have found as I get older there are many different smells that remind me of things in my past.  Sometimes this is a good thing and sometimes it’s a bad thing.  Let’s look at a couple:

Barbershops – I really didn’t pay attention to the smell of barbershops until I got older.  My grandmama had a barbershop and not until the past few years did that smell come back.  Most of the new barbershops have lost that smell but when you walk into an older one you know it.  Its kinda like a cheap aftershave. Haha.

Flowers – It is also amazing to me how different types of flowers are associated with certain areas. Many times a combination of flowers reminds me of funeral homes. That’s not the best memory but nonetheless it is from smell.

Two-part Primer – My Coast Guard friends will understand the distinct smell of this primer. I could smell it a mile away and even though it is not a horrible smell after painting with it for four years I hope I never smell it again.

Hydraulic Fluid – As many of you know I have had an array of cars. Some of the most fun cars I have ever had were my hydraulic cars from back in the day.  It was so fun riding around “hitting switches” but once  you got that whiff of hydraulic fluid you knew you had a leak.  That was not good.  I got in a work truck the other day where someone had been with it on their boots.  I miss that smell.

Grandmama’s house – It has never changed. Even though she has been gone for a while the smell is still there.  Even with Pawpaw not cleaning it much her distinct house smell is still something that brings back memories.

The Bible talks of smells and fragrances on a few occasions. Actually, the Bible speaks of our senses throughout.

2 Corinthians 2:15 states “For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing”. That is a awesome verse.  When thinking about fragrances we think about how it surrounds us.  For that moment until it passes or you leave the area it literally engulfs you.  Hopefully that is apparent in our lives in regard to our relationship with Christ.

Proverbs 27:9 states “Oil and perfume make the heart glad, So a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend”. Another profound verse.  Do we encourage and lift our friends?  Are we a sweet counsel?  Just really neat to think about.

As I get older I am definitely more aware of aromas in my past. I love how our senses can remind us from where we have been.  The USS Alabama, here in Mobile, smells exactly like every other ship I have been on and reminds me of my days in the Coast Guard.  It is fun to take a trip down memory lane.  Take a moment and breath in this life we have.  It is fragile and could be gone tomorrow.

What’s the difference between a man and a bigfoot?

One is covered with matted hair and smells awful. The other has big feet.