"Last winter, Andreas Keller decided the time was right to branch out from his day job as a neuroscientist and launch a new art gallery. Not just any gallery, but the country's first and only commercial space devoted entirely to smell-based art."

When I came across the above paragraph in Abigail Tucker's Smithsonian article entitled, Scents and Sensibility, my interest at least was piqued. The central question with smelly art is, "Can we start to appreciate what many take for granted?" A 2011 study found 50% of young adults rather forfeit smell than their smartphones.

The question before us at God Will Make A Way Ministries is similar. How do we help people realize, recognize, and respond in big and little ways to the condition of 20 million children in need of adoption around the world? The answer might rest in what COVID-19 did for smell. Suddenly, going without smell made people appreciate their olfactory power. If we follow suit, imagine hitting 18 years old without experiencing a family of your own. Really let that idea sink in deep. Staring at 18 not as some celebratory milestone but as walking the plank into uncertainty. Reflect on where you might have ended up without the guidance, direction, and love of parents who were for you.

Jesus likewise tried to get his 1st century audience to take the laws they repeated twice daily and sense their application in love lived out. To do this, he pulled his audience into a parable taking place on a crime-infested road between Jericho and Jerusalem. Challenging his listeners to be neighbors in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 10:

³⁰ In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹ A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³² So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’"

As the Samaritan "neighbored" well, let the art of "neighboring" continue through us, whether it calls us right across the street or across the world. Let's prayerfully begin to light up the olfactory receptors of others smelling like the pleasing aroma of Christ. We do this not simply with our words, but with works that reflect our allegiance. Join us at GWMAW as we partner with churches, pray for orphans, and provide for families to bring children into their forever home!

Another exciting piece of news regards Giving Tuesday on November 29th, 2022.  Please consider a special gift towards helping us hit a generous $3,000 matching gift opportunity! This will double the impact of regular gifts over the next two months!

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Sincerely,

Pastor Steven Stern
Founder of God Will Make A Way Ministries