Spring is early – and in full blossoming explosion – where I live. Take a walk. Get outside. Sit on a porch or a deck. Or sit outside at a café today. The miracle of the seasons is a window into the resurrection power of God at work. The Genesis story talks of the seasons, as the forces by which God structures time. They’re in a sense a concrete manifestation of what Plato tries to say about visible and invisible in his allergy of the cave. I’d relate that to what the biblical book of Colossians (1:15) says about Jesus – being the visible image of the invisible God.
Scents can be part of this mysterious experience of the incarnate. Many green things have strong scents, that linger – they’re strength comes from the soothing, softening and centering smell that they emit. When you’re out today look for them – lavender, rosemary, thyme, or maybe flowering jasmine at this time of year. Take a moment to pause and touch one of those plants. If you can close your fist softly around a branch, so that the oils get all over your palm. the scent will linger for some time. Notice how longs it lingers, and that as you move on, and pause to take in the green perfume, it awakens your senses. [If you don’t know what they look like, you can find photos by clicking on the names of the plants above.]
In his second letter of pastoral advice to the ancient church of the Greek town of Corinth, the apostle Paul compared how we live our faith in the world, in terms of fragrant incarnation:
14-16 In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. 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. But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse.
16-17 This is a terrific responsibility. Is anyone competent to take it on? No—but at least we don’t take God’s Word, water it down, and then take it to the streets to sell it cheap. (The Message Translation)
2 Corinthians 2:14-17 (NRSV)
How are you – and we – called and empowered to be fragrant offering living as a burning incense, like a swinging thurible, in the world, inviting not to notice us, but to recognize the gift of life and invitation to life it through knowing and being known by God.