Ruth and I went walking a few days ago on the Airline Trail near us.  It’s an old railroad bed that winds through scenic woods and fields in central Connecticut.  We heard water laughing as it ran over stones.  We saw wildflowers blooming and old stone walls.

And then we stopped.

“Do you smell that?  What smells so beautiful?”  We couldn't place the mildly-sweet aroma that wafted our way.

We looked around to try and find the source of the beautiful aroma.  All I saw were small white flowers on these bushes that looked like weeds.  Viney weeds.

I bent over to sniff the flowers on one of the bushes.  I could barely smell anything.  It wasn’t until we walked up to a huge clump that we knew for sure those tiny flowers were giving off the aroma.

You see, one flower by itself didn’t smell like much of anything.  But where there was a large concentration of flowers, it was heavenly.  Not strong.  Just right.

(c) Kathleen Thompson

As Ruth and I kept walking we realized that our lives can be like that too.  Maybe one person doesn’t shine that much.  But put us together in a community and it’s a different story.  Each takes their part, exercises their gifts, and supports one another, and suddenly there’s a sweet aroma in the air.  The aroma of love.  Creativity.  Purpose.  Service.

It’s special when it happens.  It doesn’t always work out this way, does it?  Sometimes our egos or our pain get in the way.  Sometimes we have a not-so-great history with people that carries over into what we’re trying to do.  So when we do come together, it’s like a slice of heaven right here on earth.  Like the honeysuckle Ruth and I had the fortune to breathe in on our walk.  An unexpected joy.

Why not look for opportunities this week to be that in others’ lives?  Working together with one another to create that sweet aroma of love.  Let me know what you’ve done together in the comments.