Christmas is that time of year that brings us all intense remembrance of
what it was for each of us. All unique. All very real.. For most, we remember the sights, the sounds, and the
fragrance of Christmas. You don't hear much about the latter, so I want
to mention my 5 favorites, then you can compare and then feel free to
post what your favorites are:
5. Christmas tree freshly cut
4. Cookies baking
3. Peppermint candy
2. Pumpkin pie cooking
and my number one favorite scent...
1. Turkey fresh out the oven
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| Is there anything better during the holidays? Yum! |
Certain scents will evoke some of our strongest memories. According to a recent study reported by the New York Times in The Nose, an Emotional Time Machine that: "olfaction
(that's smelling for us non-scientific types) is our quickest sense...odiferous messages barrel
along dedicated pathways straight from the nose and right into the
brain’s olfactory cortex, for instant processing."
The reason that it impacts us so greatly is "the
olfactory cortex is embedded within the brain’s limbic system (where
our brain registers both emotions and smells) and amygdala (the part of
the brain that registers memories), where emotions are born and
emotional memories stored." That’s why smells, feelings and memories
become so easily and intimately entangled.
That's
why we can smell a certain odor and be immediately transported to
another time long, long ago. God seems to have designed our brain to mix
it all up so that we recall things without effort because of our sense
of smell.
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| Pie is equally wonderful. |
God places great importance on fragrance as well. He wanted incense
burned every time the high priest went to sprinkle the blood on the
mercy seat as Passover. In addition, when the Lord sent the kings from
the east, two of their three gifts were known for their
scent: frankincense and myrrh. Could it be that it would be a reminder
each time Jesus went to the temple He would remember who He was born to
be? God who put on human flesh (frankincense was reserved for the
worship of God) Could it be that every time He went to a funeral He
would remember what He was born to do? Die for the sins of man (myrrh
was used in burial as a preservative).
In the same way, our aroma affects those around us. Listen to this:
In the same way, our aroma affects those around us. Listen to this:
But thanks be to God, who always puts us on display in Christ and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 2 Corinthians 2:14-15
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| How's your fragrance? |
This Christmas, as we breath in the wonderful aromas of the season, may
we remember why we celebrate "Christ"mas. Let's spread His sweet
fragrance everywhere beginning this wonderful, holy week.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
Pastor Trey Rhodes
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