Altar
Call – Opelika-Auburn News
Walter
Albritton
April
9, 2017
Slow down and smell the
roses
In the movie, The Shack, the grieving father is following “God” up a winding
trail in the woods. He becomes agitated and demands to know “Where are we
going?” Patiently “God” replies, “Don’t worry about that; just enjoy the
journey, enjoy the journey.”
That is good advice. Frantically
rushing here and there, we can allow a maddening pace to rob us of the simple
pleasures of this journey called life. Two weeks of isolation caused by illness
gave me the opportunity to slow down and smell the roses.
Slow down. Enjoy the journey. Smell
the roses. To do so is so important that I decided to make a note on my
calendar, twice a month, to “smell the roses.” The wisdom of doing this came to
me when a good friend wrote recently, “Your isolation allowed you to stop the
daily routine and take time to smell the roses. It is raining here this morning
and I am using the time to smell some roses.”
I pondered what it means to smell the
roses. For me it means to focus on simple things that can lower my blood
pressure and remind me how blessed I am.
I sat quietly on our front porch and
watched a humming bird flitting about, sipping quickly from the feeder. Little bird, I thought, you need to slow down
and smell some roses. Soon a lovely Blue bird made his way into the bird house
on the same tree. Nearby a squirrel seemed to be eyeing the bird feeder but awaiting
my departure before going for some seed. In the distance I watched the orange
colors of the setting sun disappearing in the darkening sky. I was smelling
some roses.
The daily avalanche of “bargains”
floods my cell phone and mailbox. Most I dump in the trash but occasionally one
may remind me of roses. A Christian book advertisement read, “What’s better
than the smell of fresh flowers, the warm sunshine on your face, grass under
your feet?” I did not order the book.
Instead, while rain was gently falling, I decided to walk to the mailbox in my
bare feet, feeling the grass under my tender feet and smiling as raindrops
clouded my glasses. I was smelling some roses.
An email message slowed me down. A
friend wrote to say that my article about my isolation had touched her heart.
She wrote, “I am now on hospice care for cancer but God is good even in this. I
have had very little pain. The doctor says I have only a few months to live but
God knows the timing and I am at peace. I covet your prayers and I will pray
for you.” I said a prayer for her. I was smelling some roses.
My son who is a pastor called and shared with
enthusiasm what a great Sunday he had. No comment about the attendance or the
offering but his joy that a woman at the dry cleaners had come to church with
her daughter. He had invited her several times and she finally came – and said
she would come back! I gave thanks for the honor of having a son who delights
in helping people connect with Jesus! I was smelling some roses.
My wife loves a good bargain. Her face
beaming, she showed me a little side table she had bought at the Adullam House for two dollars. And a lovely blouse she had
purchased for four dollars. I applauded her frugality while thanking God he had
given me a partner who was not a spendthrift.
I
was smelling some roses.
One of my sons called and said, “Dad,
let’s go buy some Red Oak lumber and build that table top you have been wanting
to build for Mom.” We bought some rough lumber from my friend Randy and began
to plane it. The beauty of the wood was stunning. We will finish it soon. I was
smelling some roses.
You might want to take some time
today, or soon, to slow down and smell some roses. It will help you enjoy the
journey. + + +