Today I was able to sit
at the table and carefully peel a large, navel orange. Those of you
reading the diary are probably asking yourselves why this is worth
putting into print.
I wanted to relate the fact that often in life,
the simplest gifts can also be the most pleasurable and meaningful. Back
to the orange.
Often I have no sense of smell but today my sense of smell was functioning so when I collected the orange from a bowl, it seemed
like just an ordinary eating experience. Then I began to notice the
beautiful shape of the orange, not exactly a globe, and covered with
gentle bumps on the surface and what a beautiful colour. Next I began to
dig into the surface to get to the actual fruit and the scent
immediately hit me, how magnificent. How does a person describe the
scent of an orange? It comes from the oil of the outer peeling, it comes
from the fruit of the orange and fills the air with a wonderful and
delicate odour.
My next experience was of breaking the fruit into
segments and thinking, “Imagine that oranges are made in perfect bite
size segments, perfect for snacking.” How many people even think of this
or appreciate it.
The topping of the experience is in the actual
tasting of the orange. Again, how can it be described? How would a
person present an accurate description of the taste of an orange? This
was such a simple pleasure but also one to again remind us of God and
some of the wonderful experiences that He can share with us when we are
calm, take the time to share this activity, and have actual appreciation
for what it is.