The aroma of childhood

I am sure that for all of us there are certain smells that immediately we come across them sends us back to a time in the past. Yesterday I was coming back from Newtownards and as we came past the silos at the docks there was this unmistakable aroma of fresh grain that had just been unloaded. As soon as I smelt it I was transported back to childhood, it was so vivid tears welled up in my eyes, that smell is so evocative to me of growing up in Belfast that it brought instant memories of events in my past where I can remember that smell. It's amazing the power of smell.

The Bible tells us that as Christians we are to have a fragrance that leaves a memory behind

2nd Corinthians chapter 2
14But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. 15For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

Reformation of God's church

Another interesting blog page
http://ruanole2.blogspot.com/2007/02/reformation-of-gods-church.html

How sweet and fitting

When I was at my Mums this week she had an old school book waiting for me, an anthology of poems, I think from my fifth form class.On a well worn page is the poem Dulce et Decorum est, {http://www.warpoetry.co.uk/owen1.html} probably the only poem that I can remember from my school days. It is odd that this anti war poem is the evidence of my education as I attended an all boys public school which was probably based on this very premise Dulce et Decorum est Pro Patria mori- it is sweet and right to die for ones country. The school was very anglicised and we were taught to play the game and have a stiff upper lip. One of the favourite hymns we sang at the school assembly was "Jerusalem" eulogizing the green and pleasant shores of mother England

Jerusalem

(From 'The Preface' to 'Milton') (Notes:)

And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?

And did the Countenance Divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among these dark satanic mills?

Bring me my bow of burning gold;
Bring me my arrows of desire;
Bring me my spear; O clouds, unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire!

I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land.

The school even had it's own Combined Cadet Force. But I didn't belong to that class. My parents, before the onset of sectarian politics, voted labour which would probably have been enough to get me expelled from the school. As a consequence I stood out as being different at this school which then resulted in myself being the object of derision.
Years later I discovered an anti war song that every time I hear it sends shivers down my back. As a believer there is one line that I am uneasy with but the sentiments just get me every time. That song is "THE BAND PLAYED WALTZING MATILDA" sung by Liam Clancey

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdsIIeMlj9g