Photo and Commentary (c)2024 by Russell Jurgensen
Thursday, December 12, 2024

Normally I wouldn’t associate a tire store with feelings, but oddly there is something about a store like this. That thing is the tire smell. We all know what a tire store smell is like. The moment you walk in the door, the thick odor of tire rubber assails your senses, and you might even wonder if it is safe to breathe.

I’m guessing most people don’t like the smell of tires, but some people love it. I kind of fall in the middle. Something I noticed was the feelings I felt and the memories the smell brought to mind. A few of the feelings were freedom and safety. Tires give us the ability to get around quickly. A good set of tires that are not balding and have been balanced offer reliability and a sense of safety.

It makes me think of the feelings I have when reading the Bible. There are some rough stories in the Bible. It seems like if no bad things happened, the Bible would not have been written. But woven throughout the Bible is hope, love, freedom, and safety. It is interesting to look for the love when reading the stories to see how God works through difficult things.