derelique

i was thinking about this upside down kingdom we belong to. henri nouwen's notion of "downward mobility" and my impending gig at a food bank. the phrase derelique came to mind. for those who did not see ben stiller's zoolander, i don't recommend it, it was not that funny.

but it has been a long time since i've smelled the earthy smell of urine, bo, and alcohol wafting together in a perfume stiller aptly called "derelique" although his reference was to a clothing line. it makes me think, is this a sweet smelling fragrance to God?

as unGodlike as my thoughts are, i like to think God breathes in deep the smell of roses and gardenia.

my husband would say, smoked meat and vietnamese food.

but i think those are smells we like.

think about it, we have an aversion to anything remotely uncomely. Jesus didn't.

He was reaching out and touching LEPERS of all people. the ones deemed untouchable (and for good reason, not just pettiness).

(imagine the mortified apostles when they saw this. shaking their heads trying to stop Him but He moves too deliberately and too quickly before they get a read on Him. He reaches out, they shake their heads, oh no! unclean. He heals. they are speechless and glad they were too late to say anything. tell me Jesus was not a Wild Man. tell me He was a patsy, He simply was not!)

He was spitting in mud and wiping people's eyes.

the things He did, and does, make my head spin.

so it makes me wonder. does God like to smell the scent of humility? and what does that smell like? sure, i'd like it to be something i'd like to smell, but i don't think God cares much about what i'd like. i think He cares about what i need. what He wants to do to enlarge my character. what He wants to do to reach his wounded and estranged people.

i remember that smell, do you know it? perhaps it's time to get reacquainted with that smell again.