You Smell Like Recess

Roll down the windows and smell like God’s playground.

I love driving with the windows down. Often when I come home after letting the wind whip through my car, my wife will say after greeting me, “You smell like recess.” The outside has a smell. It has that natural, glorious, playground scent. 

We had two full days of nonstop rain here in south Florida, but this morning there was a cool wind being kind after the downpour. So I rolled my windows down to take in the new mercies God is offering us in the mornings. I quickly think, “I just put on cologne. I’m gonna smell like recess at work. Oh well. I don’t care. I want to experience God in my car this morning, and if that means carrying around a recess odor for an hour, then it is worth the sacrifice.” I took pictures of the sun peaking through the storm clouds, which now are out east over the Atlantic. Creation had a distinct line between storm and clear skies and so I took another picture to remind myself that God’s healing in my life is much like that visible change. 

God has a scent as well. Often it’s more visible than it is breathable, but more the less it carries unique properties. For those who are willing to roll down the windows of life and turn off the quick hits of media pleasure, there is an aroma of God offered for free. 

Like always, there are practicals that help explain the supernaturals. I’ve noticed that the man or women that smells like heavens recess (Meaning the presence of God) rarely spends a lot of time watching the latest shows. The man that speaks of the voice of God and what he is saying in all things rarely knows the latest album that dropped. The women who prays as if she had been having a one on one with Jesus prior to the prayer isn’t up to date with breaking news. The son or daughter who is walking around with a countenance like that of Moses is without question saturated in the word of God. The brother who is content and meek in Christ Jesus always shows a face of satisfaction, even in the valley. The sister who has discernment and words of knowledge probably was abiding for long periods of time with the Father. 

There is a scent that lovers of God’s presence have. Sometimes it comes across as extremely awkward and to the observer, can seem ultra religious, but it is none the less the aroma of a dweller in the house of the Lord. It’s often awkward because we aren’t familiar with it. Ouch!

This usually ticks people off and ruffles some feathers, but it’s hard to not mention. The more technology, the less awareness of His presence. The more screen time, the less of His time you will enjoy. The more podcast and songs, the fewer encounters and revelations. When the AirPods are in your ears, the less you will hear His whispers around you. Some may say, “But I’m listening to sermons and worship music.” How do you think that pastor or songwriter wrote that song? They wrote it in the stillness with the Father. There is no way I can write a song while listening to a podcast or music. Maybe it can help with creativity, but eventually if I want to hear my Father, I have to listen in stillness. 

This offends. It’s like telling your spouse to get off the phone and be present. That only angers them and causes defensiveness because they want to justify their social media intake or call out your past screen time moments. But who cares if it offends? We are talking about the healing balm of God’s voice in our lives. For God’s sake, smell like Him. Look like Him. Talk like Him. Listen like Him. This only comes from being with Him. 

Yes, it’s hard to break the addiction cycle of grabbing the remote and sinking into the couch. Of course, it’s going to be difficult to separate yourself from the phone that abides in every pocket of every pair of jeans. But if we can be real honest for a second. We are talking about the presence of Jehovah vs. a silly phone with infinity scroll apps. Choose carefully. 

There are major differences between the common christian and the lovers of His presence, but the most visible one is the ratio of abiding over media intake. Set your mind on someone infinite, not an infinity scroll. Sit long enough in the awkward silence until it becomes the greatest dopamine hit you have ever experienced. Don’t waste your earthly life only to finally enter your rest when you die. Rest now with Him. Roll down the windows and smell like God’s playground.