2011-10

Sensory experience
We live in a very visual world,
we are bombarded with
environmental print and
encouraged to watch and learn by
the media; 80% of all we learn is
though vision.
Vision is a vital sense and those of
us who are blessed with good vision
should be very grateful, we can
see the world in all its glory but to
experience it we need to engage with
all our senses.
Every sense can stir something
deep within us. The sudden catching
of a fragrance or smell can instantly
transport us to another time or place
or can bring to mind some one we
once knew. A whiff of Brut aftershave
or Aqua Manda perfume immediately
transports us back to our teenage
years! (Oops, showing our age
there).
To savour our food we smell it first
and our sense of smell and taste
work together for our enjoyment,
or otherwise! For the chocoholics
amongst us one of the greatest
pleasures in life is a mouthful of
your favourite chocolate. For us this
comes in the form of a Twirl. Sharing
food with family and friends was a
major part of Jesus’ ministry and
is something we all do to mark an
occasion or just enjoy each other’s
company.
Our world is full of noise - some
of it good, some not so good. We
hear but we don’t always take time to
listen. Music can calm the soul and
lift the spirit. The sound of laughter is
infectious and laughter is said to be
the best medicine!
Listening isn’t just about noise
its about stillness, focusing on the
sounds of tranquillity like a babbling
stream, the rhythm of breathing
in and out or the wind as it sighs
through the trees.
One of our first experiences as
we enter the world is through touch
and it continues to be an important
aspect of our lives. The arm around
the shoulder, the consoling hug, the
welcoming kiss all connects us to
each other.
We need to touch and be touched
as part of our human experience.
Who doesn’t appreciate the feel of
clean bed linen, the coolness of a silk
shirt, the comfort of a snugly jumper
or slippers as we finish our daily
tasks? Hasn’t it been suggested that
gently stroking a cat or dog can lower
the blood pressure?
Vision is the unifying sense for
all other senses it confirms what
we are eating, it helps us to hear, it
reinforces our tactile sense, it alerts
us to smell.
We need it to make sense of our
world. We enjoy our world through
our senses so in order to experience
it as fully as possible we need to
make sure our senses are as finely
tuned as they can be.
Jane Jones and Jill Cox
St Chad’s Church, Linden Avenue, Woodseats
Church Offices: 15 Camping Lane, Sheffield S8 0GB
Tel: (0114) 274 5086
Page 12
email: office@stchads.org
website: www.stchads.org