Nowadays, we really need to pay attention to our surroundings. Some people’s hearts have grown desperately wicked, while others have pure hearts but, unfortunately, impure arms.
An impure arm may not be as dangerous as an impure heart, but they share one thing — both are unhealthy. While only God can fix an impure heart, we are responsible for fixing an impure arm. Fasting and prayer won’t help here, because this is rarely a spiritual matter. You might wonder: how can an arm be dangerous? Stick with me — I’ll explain.
The Walk
It all happened on a warm Tuesday afternoon. I was on summer break — well, not entirely, as I was helping with a summer program four hours a day, three days a week. The distance from home to work was less than a mile — about a four-minute ride or twenty-two minutes on foot.
Feeling energetic that day, I decided to walk. I wasn’t in a hurry, and I loved the greenery along the way. Walking had always been bittersweet for me — bitter because I lost so much weight and felt marga-dung (skinny as ever), but sweet because the quiet gave me space to reflect on life and appreciate God’s creation.
The road was busy, cars whizzing by, but I felt safe. The community was peaceful — the only real risk was rain. If it caught me unprepared, I’d be soaked to the bone. But that afternoon, the sun was shining, so all was well.
The Encounter
About fifteen minutes in, I noticed a man coming toward me on the same walkway. He had a bag and looked like he was returning from work. Nothing about him seemed threatening.
But just as we passed each other… he struck me. Hard.
At first, I was dumbfounded. Why would someone do that? He didn’t even look back to see if I was okay. I’m grateful I’m a strong Black woman — otherwise, I might have been knocked out for good.
Yet when I reflected on it, I realized something: I couldn’t blame him. Not really. He probably didn’t even realize what he had done. And honestly, I couldn’t confront him — not about that weapon.
The Weapon
You see, the weapon wasn’t a knife or a stick. It was his armpit. Yes, his armpit.
The odor was so overwhelming that I had to consult Google. Turns out, it’s not uncommon:
“Apocrine glands in our armpits produce sweat that can smell when bacteria break down the otherwise odorless sweat. People with hyperhidrosis may sweat excessively, which can make the odor worse. Antiperspirants, shaving, and antibacterial soap usually help. If odor persists, a doctor should be consulted.”
After reading that, I realized: maybe I had offended people in my past with my own armpit odor — especially as a teenager.
The Lesson
That man wasn’t the only one who ever offended me with such weapon, but his case was extreme. Smelly armpit odor is a surprisingly powerful “weapon,” and it made me think about how little things we overlook can affect others.
So, let’s all be mindful of ourselves and considerate of others. What seems fine to us might be offensive to someone else. And above all, stay aware of your surroundings — you never know what kind of “weapon” you might encounter on a sunny afternoon walk.
