We’ve all known the kids who incessantly inhale the fumes from Sharpie markers. The multicolored stippling on the tips of their noses tips you off about their tendency to huff volatile hydrocarbons, and we typically encourage them to minimize these behaviors in hopes of them reaching adulthood. (We also have to keep a close eye on these hooligans when filling up at gas stations…if you’re not careful, you’ll have Petroleum Perfume all over your backseat).
On a related note, I’ve never personally liked the scent of markers, but I think the scent of Play-Doh is delightfully intoxicating. This decidedly non-toxic substance smells like a strangely saccharine, slightly salty glob of Creativity with a hint of amaretto that delicately kisses your nostrils. Wherever there are kids playing with Play-Doh, you can probably find me nearby holding the container up to my nose.
And recently, I found a container of Play-Doh in an obscure corner of a church closet. Eager to indulge in olfactory nirvana, I removed the cap and breathed in. The smell was still celestial! But upon examination of the Play-Doh, I found a petrified and crusty catastrophe of crumbles. The previously pliable dough had been isolated for so long that I couldn’t even roll it into a snake, let alone use it to create something more classically awesome like a wiener dog. Although it had retained its fragrance, it was virtually useless. I might have cried a little.
And I think that sometimes people in conservative Christian circles isolate themselves from the rest of the world. They are quick to point out the marker stains on the noses of others, and they self-righteously snort at the Hydrocarbons of Hypocrisy that characterize other congregations and corporate entities. Meanwhile, the absence of humility hardens their hearts, and although their doctrine still “smells sweet,” their elitism has caused their influence to crumble. And no one wants to play with them anymore.
So while we’re encouraging people to stop sniffing Sharpies, let’s also make sure that we are retaining the humility necessary for God to continually keep molding us into His works of art😊
Ephesians 4:1-3
