WHERE’S THE STINK?
…” well, when we came to the city of Troas to preach the Good News of Christ,
the Lord gave me tremendous opportunities. But I couldn’t find rest because my dear brother Titus hadn’t yet arrived with a report from you. So I said good-bye and went on to Macedonia to find him.
Now wherever we go He uses us to tell others about the Lord and to spread the Good News like a sweet perfume…”
2 Corinthians 2:12,13,14
Early this morning, still pajama clad, I finally cleaned out my fridge.
It looked alright- no spills, nothing going green yet. But I every time I dared open the door, my over-sensitive nose was assaulted by an awful stench. Where was it? I’d checked left-overs, sniffed cheese, rummaged through the vegetable bin- nothing. How could something that looked so clean smell so rotten?
I found all sorts of stuff I didn’t know I had in there. Where’d I get all these sauces? Barbeque sauce, teriyaki sauce, chili sauce, hot sauce, Szechwan sauce and steak sauce to name just a few. And mustard—four different kinds!
Where was that stink?
I couldn’t help but ruminate, as I rummaged through my fridge, on my somewhat stinky life. Something didn’t smell right lately. Nothing obvious- no septic sins, nothing moldering unattended. Everything on the outside seemed decently clean.
So how come I didn’t feel fresh? Where was my energy… my normal wake-up-in-the-morning hopefulness? How come I kept dreading my days and then barreling through them, dragging my to-do list along behind? Why was my eye twitching?
Slowly the fridge emptied. Every corner clean, each vegetable inspected. Lots of iffy odors thrown out. Still, nothing nasty enough to cause such a foul odor. What could it be? Time to check the freezer.
Once again everything came out. When was the last time I emptied this freezer? Last summer? Maybe the summer before? I have no idea. Judging by the overflow of frozen green beans and who-knows-what’s-in-em ziplocks, it’d been a good long while since I’d ventured deep into this territory. Why ever did I buy a big bag of frozen pineapple? I don’t even like pineapple!
But the smell was fading. Either that or my olfactories were failing. The deeper I cleaned, the less I smelled. Yet I’d uncovered nothing.
I think the apostle Paul was talking about stinky lives when he wrote to his friends in Corinth that even though he’d experienced a lot of unrest in his life lately, he was determined that every where he went he’d spread the fragrance of Christ. He reminded his friends (and us, by the way) that spreading the Good News was about none of us having to stay trapped in our stinkiness because Jesus cleaned all that out on the Cross. His blood actually washed us clean. Imagine that. Clean, fresh, fragrant beauty.
Could it be that the fetid odor I’d been trying to ignore had to do with me forgetting that?
Like maybe it’s not about me and my agenda and my stress from my overambitious workload? That my goal ought not to be to get so much stuff done- but to spread His beauty and His perfume wherever, whenever, however, and with whomever I find myself?
Like maybe it’s really about Jesus?
If you, like me, tend to get ahead of God and pack your days full of more tasks than any fully-human-woman can possibly hope to accomplish, then maybe its time to stop buying more mustard. Time to figure out why the eye is ticking before the bomb goes off. As for me, I’m going to get rid of some of the extras that are crowding out my joy. Its time to take a long look at all that I’m doing and ask God for wisdom to know what needs to be thrown out. Time to clean the fridge.
I still have no idea what caused such extreme malodorousness. Nor do I know why it’s gone. But I do know that we’ll be eating a lot of strange combinations over the next few weeks- honey mustard on green beans anybody?
From my heart,
Diane
My precious daughter took it upon herself to clean out the frig a couple of weeks ago…I thought I cleaned as I go with each shopping trip, but there was something there that was fowl. As of late there has been something here…in the frig-heart of Elizabeth. Is there a way to open up that chest cavity and start picking things out. This was so needed today, as I have had to do some heartful purging and finding what that stink is anyway. Thanks for using such tangible ways to bring some really good concepts to my heart.
I know about your “clean-as-you-go” concept Elizabeth… and I’m sure that is just as important in spiritual cleanliness. To keep what our forebears used to call “short accounts” with God- searching out His heart regarding ours. Its a lost art, this looking honestly and repenting and redoing…
A dead mouse under the refrigerator?
Hi Diane,
My reply to this post is so embarrassing to me! When I first read this post I must have missed the fact that it was continued by clicking on the link. I only read the first part–the part that showed on the main post page. I sat here confused and bewildered! “Where’s the ‘so what’? Where’s the lesson in this? What am I supposed to get out of this post?” Then I thought, “Well, maybe this time she was just being humorous, and looking for our answers to her dilemma of ‘Where’s the stink?’ ” When I noticed that all but my comment had been accepted, I saw the serious side, and I thought, “How on earth did they get that take on her post???” Then when I went back and read your post again, I saw that I was supposed to click on the link to continue reading. Oh no! How did I miss that the first time I read it??? I immediately understood why you didn’t accept my comment, and I was mortified that I had so goofed! Call me a goofball! Next time there’s a link to click to read the rest of the post, I’ll notice, I’m sure!
Thank you Diane. This is what I’ve been hearing and what I am trying to do. UGH. How does a diligent duty-doer refrain from converting hopes and dreams into duties and STILL GET THEM DONE? I don’t know how. I’m naturally a self-centered hermit. I’ve been trying SO HARD for SO LONG to be more loving and plan people into my busy schedule. How can I show Christ’s love to all and yet not become overwhelmed?? I need help. You say “stop buying mustard”. cute, but HOW?
I love you self-title, “a naturally self-centered hermit”. Me too! And my prayer for many years has been something along these lines: “Lord, give me Your heart for Your people… enlarge my heart to love generously.” And He has and He does! First the honest look at yourself (sounds like you’ve already done that), next a realization that you cannot do this in your own natural personality, then the best part… asking Him to begin that good work deep within your heart… and then the hard part… listening and waiting on Him daily for your task of loving His people.
That doesn’t mean you’re suddenly going to become an all-out extrovert, Heidi! God especially designed many of His women to be task oriented accomplishers. Bringing women along with you as you work, and listening to His instructions is most likely the way you’re going to be changed into an unselfish lover of people. Be patient with yourself though, He is never in too great of a hurry when it comes to transforming our hearts.
Marvelous way of encouraging others to check out what’s hindering them from spreading the love of Jesus! Right on! Thank you so much for sharing.
Thank you for sharing your heart with women, Diane. After reading this devotional, the Lord’s word to me was pretty straight forward – “Jacque, quit deceiving yourself!” I’m Italian and the Lord often has to yell in my ear to get me to listen!” Lord, your servant is finally listening!
LOVED this one Diane. I’m up for green beans and mustard! Thanks for the reminder to keep checking in with the Lord on how to spread His fragrance.