ethoughts weekly- Issue 150

Feb 24, 2007

Quick Notes:

1. Check it out-- I am an author of literary agent Chip MacGregor. See my profile at chipmacgregor.com !!!

2. Also read my article, Thursday in the March issue of Simple Joy (simplejoy.org)

Life as an Anointing

This is the 150 Issue of ethoughts weekly and yesterday I turned 35 years old. The Issue number is a nice round number, and it and my birthday have coalesced and made me very reflective. Also, old people tend to get increasingly reflective, sometimes shortly near the time they need bifocals. When I began writing these weekly installments in 2004, I didn’t know where it would take me, but I felt an undeniable and strong conviction to do it all the same. So much has transpired between Issue 1 and Issue 150. I would hardly know where to begin, if I were to try to sum it up. But in general, it’s brought many new opportunities into my life, of which I would have never dreamed. It’s brought new people into my life, and I count this as a huge honor and blessing. It’s brought some struggle. It’s brought learning both from research and reader input. It’s brought growth. I have changed for the better because of ethoughts weekly, and I hope it's be nice for you too. Please know, I am very grateful. I am thankful to have readers, and I am thankful that so much love ripple to me through all of it. What a blessing.

In and among the fun birthday festivities last night, some friends gave me a gift basket. It contained various items I love; things like coffee, chocolate, almonds, and blueberries, (chocolate covered blueberries, to be exact.) And really, though they may have not even known how much, it was a basket of anointing. I can only see it that way. I’ll tell you why.

Last weekend, as I mentioned in Issue 149, I attended a women’s weekend retreat. For the last session, we learned about spikenard oil, and its use by Mary of Bethany, as an anointing of Jesus the Christ. Christ means, “anointed”, neat huh? Anyway, Mary used a pound of oil that would have cost at least a year’s wage. The oil was pure, and it came from the root of a flowering plant of the Himalayas, just as it does today. It was likely a cherished gift from her father, and also a wedding present. Normally, it would have been kept by a maiden, and used for and on her bridegroom, on their wedding night. The lovely fragrance would be a symbol of sweet and abiding love, and it would be an anointing of the commencement of their new lives together. She gave up this precious future event, because she realized who Jesus was. She comprehended his importance. He was her spiritual bridegroom, and that's all that really mattered. When one of Jesus’ disciples became disgusted by this incredibly extravagant outpouring, as unseemly and wasteful, Jesus defended Mary. He was touched by her gift, and appreciative of her lavish overture. This anointing was intended for his burial, he said. Indeed it was symbolic of the sweet out pouring of sacrificial love as well. It is likely he would have still smelled like this oil at his death and resurrection, which began a new spiritual life together with his spiritual bride, (all those who believe.)

When our retreat speaker opened her petite bottle of nard oil, suspended in olive oil, the luxurious scent filled the room. In a word, it smelled like life. It smelled wonderfully of living things in an organic and most pleasing way. It made me realize the smell of one pound of nard would be nearly overwhelming, as it would be beautiful. The oil and the stunning smell would have lasted for a good many days, there is no doubt. I deeply enjoyed this ancient story and the illustration of the anointing oil. I cherished the idea of love, symbolized in benevolence, in beauty, and exquisite fragrance. I loved the smell so much my friends thought to give me some spikenard last night in my basket. It was very touching to me, and very thoughtful, (as were the other gifts, that I am not speaking of at the moment.)

It made me start thinking about this new year of my life. It should be one that is anointed. That's what I want it to be. It should have the hopes, and means of being a sweet fragrance to others. God help me and make it so! Every time I smell my lovely gift, I’ll try to remember the sacrifice of sweet love, and the promise that can be in my life, when I come at it with intention, and at least a full pound of God’s fragrant grace. May this story of fragrance inspire you! May your lives be a sweet fragrance- an anointing of love.

Lisa DeLay

©2007