Our Senses.

It seems like God thought of everything when he designed the human body. He built in so many ways for us to experience his creation, and communicate with him. Take the simple 5 senses for example. (sight, sound, taste, touch, smell)

Fun facts about our senses:

• Our eyes can distinguish up to 10 million colors

• Our nose can detect over a trillion different scents.

• About 80% of what we perceive as taste actually comes from smell.

• Our bodies can also sense pressure changes as small as 0.1 nano bars.

• Your skin can detect temperature changes as small as 0.18 degrees F.

• Some people (like me) experience synesthesia (blending and intertwining of senses.)  

The bottom line is that by God's design, senses are crucial for survival. They allow us to interact with the world around us. They enable us to perceive our environment, gather information, and respond to stimuli, which are all vital for daily life and safety. They are also the building blocks for neural pathways that produce memories and habits.

Since I was a pretty small kid, I've been doing what I call, "marking the moment"... where i consciously DECIDE and deliberately TRY to make a memory. Later in life, I read about others who do this, and the science behind linking your senses to the moment so that you are better able to remember. Now I practice all kinds of intentional sensory input that helps me build solid memories (like buying a new perfume to mark trips or special occasions.- so that every time I smell it, I'm transported to that place or time). Sometimes, I pull one of my kids close and recite the moment through our senses... last time it was my son and i said "mark this moment! rememberer, the waves are lapping at our toes, and the salt air is filling every breath. We can hear seagulls and your sisters are giggling in the background, and the ocean stretches out in front of us forever... and your mom's arms are around you, and she loves you and she's shorter than you now.😜. They each have stories of things they still remember because they tied all their senses to the memory.

“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” ~Isaiah 55:12

Sometimes I read verses like this, and I can hear the Lord's voice in my ear, marking the moment, reminding me that He is with me. Reciting the sensory input for me “ You are going out in Joy. You are being led forth in peace. The mountains and the hills are bursting into song before you. The trees of the field are clapping their hands. I am showing you that MY creation (all of nature) AND the way I designed you (with the ablility to percieve it) are all part of a grander plan to communicate my love to you.” And that thought fills me with joy!

Lord, thank you for your presence- for your design- for your intentions toward us. Bring to mind all the times you have expressed your love for us and help us build our lives upon those marked moments pulled aside with you. Help us to engage with nature in a way that honors you, and reciprocates that love! Activate all of our senses so we experience your fullness. ~Amen

Jesu“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills will burst into song before you,

and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”