The Jesus Aroma

But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ's triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. (2 Corinthians 2:14, 15 )

The sense of smell is a very strong memory stimulator.  It does more than draw up a memory.  It almost takes us there.  When I catch a strong scent of granite, it whisks me away to a childhood picnic at the shores of Lake Erie.  When I smell the scent of almond, I almost expect to open my eyes and find myself on my mother's lap as she shares her Jergen's hand lotion with me.  Aromas do more than simply call up a memory.  It brings us into the presence of that memory.

So when Paul tells us to be the pleasing aroma of Christ among others, he is telling us that we are to be so much like Christ that others feel as if they are truly in his presence.  Wow... that is one perfume I usually forget to put on in the morning.  

You know those imitation designer scents?  Those copycat perfumes that you can buy for a fraction of the price?  They do smell very, very similar... but somehow they just don't do the same thing for you.  I know a lot of people like that when it comes to the "Jesus aroma."  They don't mean to be imitations.  They really do try to be who Jesus wants them to be, and they truly do point the way to Christ, but they don't bring you into his presence.

Then there are those who occasionally have that perfume on just right.  They rarely realize it though.  But given the right set of circumstances at just the right time, you can smell Jesus all over them and *poof* you know you are in the presence of Christ.  This comes from a lifetime of knowing that scent and trying to use it... and occasionally we get it just right.

The only people who - for me - have consistantly worn that Jesus aroma are three people that I have never even met personally; but each time I have heard them speak, I have been brought into the presence of Jesus by that sweet aroma.  They are Mother Teresa, Billy Graham and our own ELCA Bishop, Mark Hanson.  I'm sure there are more, but these are the ones that have done it for me consistantly.  Even over millions of miles and the "magic" of television, radio, or internet, these folks carry (or have carried) the sweet aroma of Christ to those willing to take a whiff.

It's not easy to carry that scent all the time.  We're human.  And even when we try really hard, mostly it's going to be a cheap imitation.  But if we keep looking for the right combination of of faith, love and grace, we will occasionally bring the joy of that scent to others.  And they will be carried straight into the presence of Christ.

Lord Jesus,

I pray that I may get the ingredients of this wonderful perfume right today.  Help me to bring others into your presence by the the things that I do and say.  Amen.

Joys:  Pedicure today!; wedding shower shopping;