This morning as I was walking in preparation for my 3-day 60 mile walk in Dallas in November, I reached my first 3/4 mile and I began to smell the tantalizing aroma of a grill already fired up in celebration of what I assume was a part of the Southern Heritage Classic festivities. The smell was breathtaking. It made me salivate-really! I began to look around to see if I could see who the perpetrators were-committing the crime of making me long for a sweet juicy rib instead of continuing my walk. Initially, I couldn’t see where it was coming from. I continued to walk and as I rounded the corner and got a little closer to my first mile, there it was- a big black barrel grill fired up and smoking good!!
What was sooo interesting was that the closer I got to the grill, the less potent the actual smell of the barbecue was. Perhaps part of the reason was the direction of the wind. As I thought about it though, I believe that the primary reason is the fact that the things that produced the smoke aren’t as sweet smelling as the smoke itself. It’s just the nature of what they are in their individual states. The wood typically has a scent but standing alone it’s not enough to draw you in like the smoke does. The charcoal is sooty and leaves an undesirable mark when touched. The starter fluid typically is not a pleasant smell but it’s needed to aid the match in producing a good fire, which in turn produces the smoke. And then there’s the match, which when struck ignites quickly, is blown out and then has it’s own little smoke that is pleasant but not long lasting. I believe this grill had some type of hickory chips as well-the aroma was so powerful. I’m not real familiar with them but I believe you can enjoy some scent by just holding them in your hands and sniffing but surely not as powerful and enticing as when they are placed in the grill, soaked with the fluid and ignited by the fire.
Wow…..I saw so much in this experience, I almost had to stop on the side of the road to gain my composure. 1st-How enticing was it to stop at just the smell of the smoke. Even before I turned the corner it just hit my nose and it was breathtaking. But had I stopped what would I have gained other than a smell that unfortunately would not last forever and furthermore could not provide me with any real nourishment? 2nd-I could have been disappointed and discouraged to come in closer to the fire and not get the same “feel good” sensation that my initial sense received when first introduced to the smoke back around the corner earlier in my journey. 3rd- How powerful is it to realize that operating alone we may be tempted to only see our shortcomings, and fail to understand we have a purpose and assignment and are extremely powerful when we work in concert with others. We may be like the hickory chip, with sharp edges, stained sides, and lots of signs of where we’ve come from. We may be like the match-short, short fused, plain, no real color to us except the “red covering” that renders us useful to others who need us to warm them, give them light, and even help them get to a better state to be used by others. We may be like the lighter fluid-can only be contained by being locked up, bearing an unpleasant odor, and only beneficial to the touch of our intended purpose-otherwise seen as an accident, a spill, a mistake. We may be like the wood-rugged on the surface, pricking others that get near us-hard to penetrate or the charcoal that just leaves its nasty mark wherever it lands. When these things with all of their flaws and defects come together, I’m telling you-the result is powerful! It’s enticing! It’s drawing!
Today’s encouragement is for those who would choose to receive a “limited” benefit by staying at a distance and just enjoying “the smoke”. The 4th thing I realized is that the only long lasting benefit I could have from this experience would be to come all the way into the grill-real close to the fire and taste what the fire produced!!!! Psalm 34:8 says, “O taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” Stop “blowing smoke” and don’t stop at simply “smelling the smoke”, which is just the evidence that something good, something beneficial is ahead for you. It may not be as pretty up close, it may not give you the temporary pleasures that you receive at a distance. Reality is you may even get burned. But Trust God by coming in a little closer and getting what you need to nourish you and sustain you forever!
WOW. What a God-given gift you have to reveal such deep inspiration and wisdom to others from something so simple and easily overlooked. My prayer is that I can do through my pictures what you do through your words!!!! You are blessed and you are a blessing.