It Just Makes Sense

experiencing the world, one sense at a time

One of the ways God created humans to explore the world is through our senses. It Just Makes Sense is a place to share a few recent experiences that have engaged mine.

11.14.2024

Sight: Tonight is opening night for my daughters’ high school performances of Godspell. They’ve worked really hard, put long hours, and dealt with all the stresses. As I was scrolling FB the other day, this image of my daughter captivated me. I don’t often share images of my kids on public platforms, and I won’t make a habit of it either, but I’m breaking that rule this time because it’s a strikingly fantastic composition, courtesy of local photographer Karrie Rathbone. Karrie blesses the parents in my community by attending activities, taking amazing photos, and sharing them with us. I’m so thankful for her generosity!

Photo by Karrie Rathbone of Rathbone Images

Sound: I was asked to write an Advent devotional for my church during the upcoming Advent season, and part of this request was to also make a list of Advent songs to share with the congregation. So, I’ve been listening to quite a bit of seasonal music lately. One song that’s not specifically Christmas-themed, but I shared anyway because I find it beautiful and fitting, is a new one by Getty Music called Christus Victor (Amen). When I first heard it a couple weeks ago, I listened to it on repeat, attempting to memorize it. It’s lovely.

Smell: Isn’t it funny how you can sniff out smells simply because they aren’t “yours”? My daughter had on a borrowed hoodie the other day and I kept catching whiffs of it…and not even because it was a bad smell, but because it wasn’t OUR smell.

Touch | Feel: I flipped up the multiple switches to turn on the library lights at work, turned, and felt something tighten into a tug around my ankles. A corded headphone must have been draped “just so” on the child-sized computer desk underneath the light switch and I found myself entangled. In a split second, my body involuntarily jarred itself to the right, where I simultaneously knocked my elbow into the bookshelves, and jammed my foot into the floor halting my momentum. I didn’t fall, but I came away from the incident with a right side full of sore elbow, bicep and shoulder muscles, and protesting ankle, knee and hip joints. Apparently this is 41 ;) What can you do but laugh? (and write about it)

Taste: This summer, our local coffee shop, Rhubarb Market, featured a butterscotch caramel cold brew and it quickly became my go-to drink. I’d ask for it on the sweeter side, and in a word, it’s yummy. Now that fall’s here, I don’t want to buy a cold drink, but luckily this flavor combination transfers well into a butterscotch caramel latte. Also, yummy.

I’d enjoy hearing some ways you’ve recently used your senses, so feel free to let me know in the comments, or, if you subscribe, you can also reply to the email where you received this post. You can also comment on any of my other social media platforms: @ malindadjust on FB, Insta & X, formerly known as Twitter.