Life is Like a Bowl of...Soap?

Scientists have proven that powerful and vivid memories can be stirred up by our sense of smell.  That’s because when we first smell a new scent, we link it to the event, the person, or even the  moment in time in which we encounter it.  Because we experience most new smells when we are children, smells often call up childhood memories

I think that’s one reason I get such a kick out of handmade soaps.  The unique fragrances, the mysterious blends, the promise that they will take me to a place of peace and  harmony in my head... 

It’s been a bit frustrating, though, as I just can’t seem to find the right scent that wisks me away to some relaxed, stress free space in my mind. 

Certainly the goat milk soap that made my hair smell like a wet dog was not what I had in mind.   Nor the clear soap that looked beautiful but smelled like old ladies with Kleenex in their pockets when it got wet.  And let’s not forget the lovely, lavender scented bar that produced a lather with the texture of, dare I say it?  Snot.

Which is why I decided it was time to make my own soap.  I am a problem solver by nature; and I was certain I could figure out the perfect combination  of scent, appearance, and lather. 

I began my research online, but it quickly became apparent I would need some hands-on tutoring.   Which lead to a road trip to Logan, where the wonderful folks at Majestic Mountain Sage sell everything you could ever need to produce perfection in soaps.  I begged pathetically until I got invited to spend a delightful afternoon with Tina in their test kitchen, while she impressed and entertained  me with her knowledge of soap making. 

It’s not your grandma’s soap anymore, kids.  Now there are lye calculators, fragrance calculators, scales to measure by the gram, and more recipes than a Betty Crocker Cookbook.

So, a few days later, I spread out  $174 worth of supplies and prepared to make my first batch of soap.  I had every intention of documenting this momentous occasion, but things did not go exactly as planned.  In fact, I was making mistakes so fast I didn’t even have time to make notes, let alone take pictures. 

Yet somehow, despite my mis-measures and getting lost half way through the recipe, my nifty new electronic scale shutting down in the middle of weighing ingredients, and a stick blender that had the suction power of an industrial vacuum cleaner, the soap turned out beautifully. 

Apparently, soap is pretty forgiving.

I don’t think I could ever recreate the sequence, but the results were pretty darned good anyway.

Which made me stop and think for awhile.  Because in the course of my life, when you talk about mistakes, I’ve made some whoppers.  And yet, through the grace of a truly loving and forgiving God, I’d say my life has turned out pretty darned good anyway. 

So here’s the thing.  All we can do is do our best, and trust in the Lord to take it from there.  

I’ll leave you with this Bible verse:  "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."   Romans 15:13

What happy mistakes have you ever made?  What things have you messed up, but discovered that they turned out better than you thought possible?