What’s That Smell? Part II

Dec 17

Sisters of the Visitation at the Visitation Monastery of Toledo, OH

Two weeks ago I shared my new “spiritual bouquet” in DeSales Weekly. To catch everyone up on the story, I started swimming in the mornings with Fr. Alan. One unexpected outcome is the lingering smell of chlorine during the rest of the day. Instead of the smell being something neutral or even negative, I’ve worked to think of God when I smell chlorine and ask to move my heart towards gratitude.

Each year the Oblates and Sisters of the Visitation renew our vows on the memorial of the Presentation of Mary on November 21. This year the sisters at the Visitation Monastery of Toledo asked me to give them a retreat before we renewed our vows. I shared with them the story of my spiritual bouquet of chlorine, and asked them, “What smell reminds you of God?” Because smells are so connected to memories and emotions, I thought this was a question worth asking.

The Sisters of the Visitation gave wonderful responses with a great range of answers. One said roses and flowers reminded her of God. Another response: the smell of wood because Jesus was a carpenter. Still another: sweat from traveling and working. Finally, Mother Superior suggested, “Everything.”

Let me give some context to her response. Previously, we were talking about the great care they show to sick and infirmed sisters. I couldn’t help but go back to that conversation when she said, “Everything.” She is suggesting we think of God whether we are in a garden with the aroma of roses, in a hospital with the smell of cleaning agents, OR at a sick bed with the smell of urine from incontinence. Everything.

We are in the midst of the Third Week of Advent. The call is to rejoice! We hear in scripture rejoice always. I am not there yet. I could write about the meaning of rejoice always, but my heart doesn’t grasp it yet. However, thinking of God with every smell is a good place to start.

Lord, let every smell remind me of you.

Dear Sisters of the Visitation, thank you for Everything!

May God be Praised!