So I started taking the bus this week because I am now the proud owner of 1 car. Working 20 minutes away (by car) I realize my life is now happily inconvenienced for the sake of the environment, the bottom line on my budget, and the walk that takes place at both ends of my journey. I have also proudly entered my neighbourhood, and community. I am now a participating member of my community, rubbing shoulders with the other happy bus travellers. I love it the people i meet, the things i hear.....BUT...
Wouldn't you know there are those inconviences, the kind of thing that make you second guess your decisions. Something happened that reminded me of why the convience of my own car seems much more like necessity. You see, there was a time when I remember being proud of sharing public computers in the library...I quickly outgrew this when I realized that most of my neighbours were simply playing online games, or looking at porn. So my first commute was in all respects interupted by the person next to me, who to my nose, quite simply smelled.
Having worked with numerous junior highs, I have to tell you smelling badly to them happens when you are an adult. It often shocks them that no it is actually something that happens and they need to try their best to coat themselves with any or all perfumes necessary prior to public meetings. As I overcame the discomfort of burying my nose in my jacket I realized something.....This person probably did not wake up thinking, I know, I am going to get on the bus smelly so that other people know that I am there.
Most people I realize don't know that they smell, they don't mean too. Then there are those who find their feet stink when they take off their shoes and it is awkwardly, and unfortunately too late to do something about it (i regularly fall into this category) . This also happens to me quite uncontrolably after eating chili. Very rarely are there people who just are dirty because there is nothing they can do about it. Smelling badly is a habit. After a while you get used to it, and you don't notice.
I remember a girl telling me that it was entirely possible to give up bathing with soap. The first few days without shampoo, she said were bad, but then your 'natural oils' take over and your hair is no longer greasy. In fact it doesn't smell at all,' she said. :) .......dare ya to try it.
Truth is if we give up bathing the only indication we stink is in people's reactions to us!! Smelling badly has simply become a habit that we are used to.
Now here is the point. This person beside me taught me something very valuable. I asked the question, Have I gotten used to my own smell? Do I realize I stink? Caught a little unaware by this thought, I realized how dependent upon the holy spirit I am to show me the things I cannot see, and smell. Like this woman, I go out in public not realizing my attitude, my spiritual life, the way I treat people....STINKS....and worst of all usually I didn't mean too, it is just a habit I have grown used to.
