The sign was placed in a prominent placed where only the most distracted or unobservant could miss. It said “No Scents Make Sense”. The sign was displayed at a public forum. It was a plea on behalf of people who are asthma and migraine sufferers. Scents trigger adverse health effects for these people in ways that could be at best uncomfortable and at worse debilitating. It was also an appeal to others to be considerate of those people so affected.

Here at Bethesda there are people who suffer from both asthma and migraines. Scents from smoke, colognes, perfumes and even scented hand sanitizer cause severe discomforts to them. Out of consideration for these members we may want to think about foregoing using fragrances when we are coming to church. Personally, I am one of those people who use cologne. It is not too big an ask to ask us to make this small change, for the sake of the comfort and wellbeing of our members who are affected by fragrances.

This is not a rule or law. It is simply a request that is grounded in the Christian principle and ethic which put others first. In 1 Corinthians 10:23-24 the word tells us, ‘”All things are lawful”, but not all things are helpful’. ‘”All things are lawful”, but not all things build up. Let none seek his own good, but the good of his neighbour’. This means that even though we have the right to do something, in this case wear fragrances, we might want to forego it for the sake of others’ comfort and wellbeing.