A quick review. God has created us with five senses: sight, smell, taste, sound, and touch. It’s not a stretch to understand how much each of these contribute to the quality of our life. At the same time, how easy it is to take these gifts for granted.
So, how are our senses more than a Divine happy accident?
When we choose to savor and appreciate them beyond their mere function.
A few examples:
. . . I can fix myself a humble meal of eggs and toast and shove them in as quickly as possible, OR I can slow down and fully taste each bite. If circumstances allow, I can move to the back step or the table on the deck. Does the food taste any different outdoors, or when we slow down? Yes.
. . . On any given day I can relax in the chair in my study and stare out at the world, OR if physically able, I can invite my beloved or a friend for a stroll through the neighborhood. How many of us have had experiences of peace, joy—even healing—when we took time to be in God’s creation?
. . . Why is it that we often see walking barefoot—indoors or outside—as child’s play? Apart from the occasional toes in the sand, how could we be more open to experience the textures and beauty of all that surrounds us?
My sense [pun intended] is that in our rush to check things off our to do list or finish a project, we risk missing out on the bounty of blessings God so eagerly desires to send our way. At the same time the goal is not to see how many God-goodies we can grab. Rather, our focus is to notice, more deeply, the ways the Divine works in, with, and through us. Our senses are no exception.
While it may seem that being in nature is the best way to heighten the sensory aspects of life, I’m more and more convinced that it comes down to our heart attitude in any given moment. If I see those eggs and toast as mere sustenance, I’ll miss the big picture. I’ll not think of all those who made it possible for me to enjoy them. Those who tend and care for the chickens. The farmer who gets them to the distributor. The driver who delivers them to the local market. The store owner who works hard to make sure the shelves are stocked. And so on.
One of the most beautiful gifts we can experience as we become more ‘sensitive to our senses’ is being flooded with gratitude and thankfulness for all that we have been given. From that perspective, it’s a definitely a lot more than a pretty view or tasty toast—it’s about the humble recognition God is far more creative, loving, and giving than our human minds can comprehend.
