What does God smell like?

 Dear Beloved, 

It has been a difficult week with the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the resulting political turmoil, the ongoing pandemic and increase of COVID cases, the severe drought and wildfires, no indictments meaning no justice for the killing of Breonna Taylor and the shooting of two police officers during a night of protest.

The topics of division, health and care of others, stewardship of our environment and justice are properly the subject of our prayer. They need not be politically divisive. They are the subject of our relationship with each other, with our earth and with God. God weeps with us. God deeply desires wholeness in the midst of such brokenness. 

While we are called to act in these areas through our prayer, our vote and our action, God desires wholeness and wellbeing for us as individuals too. In this very stressful time, we need to take care of ourselves and sometimes that means turning the news off and tuning into God instead. 

Tuning into God can be familiar if it's something you do often, but if you're out of practice, here's a meditation to help you focus on the divine. Sitting quietly, look around at your surroundings and take note of five things you can see. Appreciate each thing as being created by God and think of its significance in your life and how it manifests love and connection. Next note four things you can hear.Think about the memories each thing invokes. Next are three things that you can touch. What emotions rise in you as you engage this sense? Next are two things that you can smell. After you've appreciated these two things currently in your surroundings, contempate the question, "What does God smell like?" (For me, it's spring mud, earthy and full of the expectation of new life blooming.) Finally, think of one thing you can taste right now. Think of why it's important and then reflect on the words of the hymn "Taste and see that the Lord is good" as they pertain to Holy Communion. How have you experienced God in this exercise? Have you found a brief respite from the news? If so, try it again tomorrow and be blessed.

God bless you.

Rev. Cheryl L. Meachen, Pastor

Wesley United Methodist Church

Concord NH

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