Senses...

I was thinking the other day how we can go through each day ignoring our senses. We get wrapped up in our busy days (or wrapped up in ourselves) and can unknowingly or knowingly ignore everything around us. For example, I can drive to work and not even notice the sunrise because I am focusing on how tired I am or how I wish it was Friday...or I can look up at the sky and thank the Lord for the beautiful sunrise He made! Or as I get out of my car every day after work I can walk right in my house glad the day is over or I can take a minute to notice the flowers sprouting out of the ground in my garden which brings a smile to my face. I remember one morning after living at my house for awhile I was taking my dog out to the bathroom and I looked up and realized I can see the tip of Mt Hood from my porch! Why I never noticied it before was shocking to me...but I am good at ignoring what is going on around me. I can walk through the grocery store never looking anyone in the eye...I can go through a morning not realizing it is sunny outside because I never looked out my office window...I can eat a meal and not slow down to taste what I'm eating...

As I was reflecting on the senses God gave us and how I don't always give them a chance to take in the world around me I thought about what I don't ignore... I don't ignore smells...my nose is very aware of good or gross smells. Smells can make me gag and I often have to plug my nose to avoid such gagging. I love good smells...candles, cologne, flowers, fresh air, the ocean and so on.

I hear things going on around me...I am sometimes too aware of sounds around the office that might annoy me or around my house that might scare me and I can't stand silence...I always have music on at work, music or tv at home, white noise at night, music or talking in the car... awkward silence in a group drives me crazy...I think the only time I am okay with silence is when I'm out in my garden... I am busy focusing on the creation around me...I also realize it is the only time I talk to the Lord without some noise in the background...

I know it's a small realization but I want to be more aware of my senses...of what is around me...not taking for granted the gift of the 5 senses...