It is just a smell.
Something in the air as I walk across campus. It strikes with subtle but unmistakable force. It makes me stop, sniff.
It isn’t Chick-Fil-A or the lunch aroma from the college dining commons.
In fact, I can’t pinpoint or describe the smell; it is simply in the air. Closing my eyes, the smell has transported me. I am at Houghton College, walking the sidewalk that encompassed the quad, a new freshman, terrified, lonely, missing my family, worried about being a failure, that I can’t cut this whole college thing.
Now, as I stand on the sidewalk surrounded by the buildings of Taylor University where I teach, I am not here — I am traveling in time. I am not a publishing professional and faculty member. I am an eighteen year old with no fashion sense and big glasses and low self-esteem. A girl who doesn’t know what she wants to major in or why she’s at college or who will be her new friends or if she’ll have friends at all.
Standing here in these passing moments, I open my eyes and see a a lone student slouching toward me, eyes downcast, heavy backpack, sad face. My heart goes out to him. I know, in that moment exactly how the young man is feeling. Exactly. I am right there with him. Overwhelmed with distress from four decades ago.
I want to grab him, to hug him, to tell him it’s all going to be okay. He’ll figure it out as each day goes by. Tell him that God will be faithful. Tell him to just take it a day at a time, a step at a time.
But of course, I don’t. I can’t. The young man walks by. I sniff again and return to the present. But I vow that any moment I can, I will tell these dear students with their wide eyes and their fears and worries that it will indeed be okay.
I can testify to it.
It is just a smell. But how powerful the memories it evokes. It gives me a mission, for it reminds me that four decades ago I, too, was slouching along a sidewalk, overwhelmed, deeply distressed, trying to figure out life. God walked with me each step of the way.
All it took was a smell.
Linda Taylor: Teacher, Editor, Publishing Professional 
It’s interesting how much the sense of smell is connected to emotions and to memories.
So true, isn’t it?
Linda, What a beautiful piece of writing! Certain smells transport me, also, to the past. The smell of Caress soap reminds me of the security of my parents’ bathroom and the safe haven of home. Burning leaves take me back to childhood when it was okay to burn leaves in your yard. And yes, I recall the smell of hot chocolate from the vending machines at Ball State, where I was a wide-eyed freshman long ago.
Isn’t it amazing the memories smell evokes? Ha! Hot chocolate from the vending machines …
I had that experience at a candle store. I picked up a candle called “Christmas Nostalgia.” I kid you not, when I stuck my nose in the jar and inhaled, a swirl of emotions ran through me and I was 10 years old again. What a strange experience. I bought the candle.
Of course you did! When that happens, we can’t resist! So cool!