I do believe in "stopping to smell the roses."
Two problems: 1) no roses, and 2) no sense of smell.
But I still really believe in SLOWING DOWN and observing what the senses can realize all around us. We so often zip through the day that we don't notice the cracks in the sidewalk anymore. When we were kids, we did. We don't hear the thunder as a "roll" anymore--it's just noise. But listen--hear how it rolls in, grumbles a lot, and then rolls out again. And have you ever listened to thunder in the mountains--wow!
Why should we stop and "smell the roses"? I have my opinion. I would love to hear yours! Or share with me what you enjoy "stopping to smell"?
6 comments:
How about the SMELL of Lightning? It energizes the air, while making everything smell fresher. The bright flashes and sounds of "lightning" reminds us of the awesome power of God. I can remember as a kid sitting on the porch of my parents house and witnessing tremendous forked lightning across Lake Parsippany in N.J. The lake reflected the lights and sounds of this natural "fireworks" display.
Manure - how could manure smell so bad and be so good for the ground? My father would borrow a dump truck from my uncle and grab me when I was a young man (11-15) and we would stop at some local cow, horse or whatever farm. Chicken manure was the worst. And although the manure was extremely smelly the times with my dad were precious. Afterward, on our way home he would usually buy an Ice cream soda or something. He past away 4 years ago - what I would give to spend a day shoveling manure with my dad!
The smell of just-extinguished candles, because of the association with cake and ice cream!...I just loved vinegar-like smell of my children's sweaty heads when they were babies!... Bacon cooking sometimes reminds me of my grandfather's house.
The honeysuckle bush outside the CU library, because it reminds me of my grandmother's house.
Lilacs, always. And hyacinths, and lilies; Stargazer and Easter lilies especially. Such an intense smell. Carnations remind me of my first corsage, given to me by my father for a father/daughter dinner with friends.
Sheets dried on a clothes line. Riding home in the car with Kentucky Fried Chicken, and having to wait until we got back to the house to eat it!
Crayons - I'm told technically it's the steric acid, but who cares? :)
Since the kids have left home for college or the Far East, Judy and I have enjoyed our hobby of nature Photography. We enjoy the Smokey Mountains or the Blue Ridge Parkway and take lots of pictures of mountains, water falls, lakes, sunsets and pathways. God's beauty is never quite captured in the camera but it helps us to remember the beauty of His creation. Just to be in nature hearing the birds and crickets, the sound of a babbling brook or a waterfall, the sound of the wind blowing through the trees, feeling the cooling breeze on a warm day make each trip very special and enjoyable to share with someone you love. And oh yes we sometimes take pictures of the flowers and love the smell of Honey suckle.
I agree--although I love photography and try so hard to paint pictures with it, I can never capture the immense width and depth of world... Technology, I appreciate, but it will never replace real life and real people.
How about fresh cut grass? Just Friday during a trip over to the BJ Campus with the kids and mother, my daughter and I commented on how much we loved that smell. She actually bent down to get close to it.
I love lilacs, love peonies, love the smell of rain (we would just like to have some to smell these days), love the smell of children who've played outdoors and then even better when they're freshly bathed.
As for "stopping" my 7 year old has decided this summer to go on some of my morning walks. We don't walk very fast necessarily so I guess you could say I am stopping to smell the all too fleeting moments of childhood. I do thank God for all of my children and the too few times I stop to enjoy their company.
Shelly, I think children help us slow down in many ways...if we pay attention to it and don't keep thinking about what WE are not getting done.
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