What’s That Smell?

Dec 4

During our community meeting in August, Fr. Alan shared with the community that he wanted to start swimming in the mornings. I immediately replied, “I will swim with you. I’ve always wanted to swim in the morning.” And so it started.

Since that community meeting, Fr. Alan and I have been faithfully swimming three mornings a week. When we enter the pool at 5:45 in the morning, our St. Francis' swim team is already in the pool. When we finish at 6:20, the St. Francis' swim team is still in the pool. Fr. Alan and I are not the fastest or the most technical, we just show up and remain faithful.

I quickly discovered after swimming in the morning that it didn’t matter how long I showered or the soap I used, I still smelled chlorine the rest of the day. Everywhere I went, I smelled chlorine.

We have a practice given to us by Francis de Sales where we gather a “spiritual bouquet” at the end of our morning prayer. These spiritual bouquets are the consolations, sweet thoughts, or insights we experience during our morning prayer. We gather them and keep them throughout the day to remind us of God’s presence and love. It is a wonderful practice.

After smelling like chlorine again, three weeks into swimming, I began to wonder, “Could this smell be a spiritual bouquet?” “When chlorine hits my nose, can I think of God?” I’ve started this spiritual practice this semester. When I smell chlorine throughout the day, I think of God and give thanks for the blessings that allow me to swim: time, place, ability, and person. This practice has helped turn something sour into something sweet.

There is more to this story but it will have to wait for my next DeSales Weekly article. I shared this story with Mother Superior at the Toledo Visitation Monastery. She gave me a further insight. I will tell you in two weeks. Here’s the teaser question: What smell reminds you of God?

May God be Praised!