Durian, a true Singaporean experience

Durian is a widely known fruit here in southeast Asia. The fruit is known for its size, thorn-covered husk, and smell. When walking through wet markets, the smell of Durian either repels or attracts people - it definitely repels me! It is hard to describe the smell but according to a Google search, people have compared the smell to gym socks, rotten eggs, almonds, and turpentine. Personally, I would simply describe it as disgusting.

 

Well, yesterday I had the opportunity to try some. For those of you who know me know I am not a picky eater and thoroughly enjoy eating :) Because I am in a new country and want to experience as much of the culture as possible, I happily took a piece. As you can see in the picture below, there are smaller sections of the fruit inside the husk. My first impression of the fruit was, "this doesn't seem as bad as it smells." Well...I took a bite and it was worse than it smelled!! It tasted like onions and mayonnaise and it was all I could do to swallow it. 

I am glad I tried it just because now I can say I have. But it sure tasted bad! What was even worse was the smell on my hands and the taste in my mouth that seemed to linger there for hours! No matter how much water I drank, I would not seem to wash the taste away. 

As I was thinking about this experience, it made me think of how I should strive to be like durian (not literally - I do not wish to be known for my bad smell!). A durian is known for its smell - it is very easy to recognize the smell...even from a distance. John 13:35 tells us we will be recognized by our love. There is even a song that says those exact words, "They will know we are Christians by our love." I want people to know I am a disciple of Christ - even if I do not say a word to them - I want my actions...my love...to show them. 

My first time walking through a market, I smelled the durian and I had no idea what it was....but I sure smelled it! It was not until my aunt explained to me and showed me the durian. Just because someone may not know Christ does not mean they will not recognize our love. They will pick up on our "smell". So why don't we all strive to leave Christ's "smell" wherever we go. It does not have to be big things, it can be small things. Giving up our seat on the bus for an elder, paying for the person behind us in the drive-thru or sending a note of encouragement to a friend. 

"And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward."

- Matthew 10:42

I encourage you to leave Christ's "smell" somewhere today. Show Christ's love to someone today. Just like the durian left a taste in my mouth and smell on my hands, so will Christ's love shown through us leave an impression on those around us. Go...and be smelly for Christ!