Fragrance

One of our senses that can really make or break an experience for us, but which is hard for us to convey to others, is the sense of smell.  I think of places I’ve traveled or experiences that I have had where the dominant sensual impact was to my nose.  It can be hard to convey to others what the experience was like because they have not SMELLED it and I have yet to find a camera that will take “scratch and sniff” photos.

So, without being able to adequately describe it, I would like to say that our new home in Wiang Kaen is, so far, one of the most pleasant places we have ever lived.

The reason for that is the abundance of pummelo orchards here.

Pummelo Orchard

For those who are not familiar with them, a pummelo is similar to a grapefruit in appearance—only larger—at least on the outside.  The pummelo has a very thick skin and the inside may actually be smaller than a typical grapefruit.

Pummelo Fruit

The flesh between the membranes is generally sweeter than a grapefruit, but it can be quite variable.

Fruit Tray with Pummelo Sections on the Bottom

But it is the scent of the flowers that seem to grab our attention right now.

Pummelo Blossoms

If there were only a single pummelo tree, you would probably only notice the scent if you were really close by.  But here there are thousands—and it changes the fragrance of the whole area.

We who believe in Christ are also to be a pleasing fragrance to those around us.  We read in 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 (NIV):

¹⁴ But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.
¹⁵ For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
¹⁶ To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?

If there were only one of us in a community, we would not have much of an impact.  But if there are many of us, we can have a positive impact on a large area.

The whole idea of our work in Thailand is not so much that we see a few individuals come to faith in Christ, but rather that we create communities of faith that are able to positively transform the area around them.  In the end, one would like to be able to go to an area and know that there are believers there because there is a fragrance of life present in the air.

But it is not an easy task.  As Paul writes, “who is equal to such a task?”  Certainly not us.  At least not without God’s help.  And not without the help of others who believe in Him.

But I can purpose to be the fragrance of life to those around me.

Pray with us that God will plant not just trees, but lots of orchards throughout Thailand.