When Love Invades

I was really eager!  I was anxious, nervous, a little fearful, but mostly I was really eager.  I had never done this before and it was going to be an adventure.  I imagined doing this and now was going to get my chance.  This was going to deepen a guilty pleasure, obsession, that is part of my daily ritual.

The first cup of coffee. I know, some of you don’t drink coffee and don’t understand. But it is like breathing to those of us who do.  The smell of the brew, the first cup, the first taste…. ahh.  Honestly thought, I am really just a big crabby pain in the butt until I have that first cup.

This night I was taking my obsession to a new level.  I was going to roast my own coffee beans.  Fresh green coffee beans along with a book on home roasting were in my possession thanks to my sons.  I had read, prepared and was ready!

I thought.

Actually, it went quite well for my first home roast.  9oz of deliciousness went into my stove top popcorn popper.  Popcorn poppers, by the way, is the high tech method of all home roasters on a budget. The popper was at a proper 475 degrees on the stove in the kitchen and I was busy cranking the handle.  Soon the aroma began to shift, there was the sound of cracking from inside the popper and the temp was now holding steady at 350.  Liking my coffee a bit darker, I continued cranking and roasting until the second “crack” would begin.  And the aroma – well, it was magnificent.  Maybe even glorious!  And then it happened.

Had I mentioned the smoke yet?  Yeah, so, the book says to do this in a well ventilated area, like outside or near an open window or with a really powerful exhaust fan.  Remember when I said I was eager?  Well, in my eagerness I determined the author of the book, who had been home roasting for decades, was exaggerating – cuz I’m smart like that.

The smoke.

It didn’t just smoke like a cigar.  It didn’t just smoke like a toast that was burning.  No, it billowed like every leaf in our wooded neighborhood had been lit on fire in our kitchen.  I was only slightly surprised my neighbor didn’t call the fire department!

I guess it was time to open the windows…

But it was too late.  The smoke, and the amazing aroma of roasting coffee, had invade the home.  Not just the kitchen and nearby living room and dining room. Every room.  Upstairs and downstairs.  Bedrooms and closets.  All, corners nooks and crannies were blessed.

My daughter immediately complained when she got home.  My youngest son loved the smell.  My oldest son was at first tolerant but then realized that even his bedroom smelled.  My wife, she was amazingly gracious.  She didn’t mention the smell for at least a full day.

Four days later.  The house still smells like roasting coffee.  I like it.  My children left for school still smelling like roasting coffee.  Our carpets, comforters, coats and even socks – roasting coffee.  The smell of coffee has invaded every part of our lives right now.

Yet I am so thankful to God, who always marches us to victory under the banner of the Anointed One; and through us He spreads the beautiful fragrance of His knowledge to every corner of the earth. In a turbulent world where people are either dying or being rescued, we are the sweet smell of the Anointed to God our Father. (2 Corinthians 2:14-15, The Voice)

I wonder.

Have I allowed the love of God the Father that is demonstrated in Christ Jesus invade every area of my life?  When people encounter me, what do they smell?  Do they smell Jesus?  Or, do they just smell Brian…?

Do they smell the love of Jesus welcoming them with exuberance? Or, do they smell the stench of judgement pushing them away?

Do they smell joy and life? Or, do they smell anger and hate?

Do they smell reconciling servanthood or a jerk who wants his way?

What do you smell like?

I wonder what our world would be like if those who follow in the way of Jesus really smelled like Jesus…