We were walking. A somber “road-trip” to celebrate life’s final passage. Then the bell rang.
I had the privilege this week (as I too often do) someone on a person’s final journey, to death. And the life to come!
Death. I don’t want to think about my own death. But I do. And it encourages me to live. To live alive.
This dear person had been ill. No matter the prognosis, she always remained hopeful, joyful even, in the face of much suffering. I am inspired by people like that. Everyone spoke well of her, of her humor, her optimism, her laugh… her joy.
I don’t always experience joy. I don’t always reflect joy to others. But I want to. I want to have joy. I want joy to be in my soul, like the breath in my lungs, like the sun on my neck. But my joy often gets buried by the busy-ness and frustrations of daily life.
So we were walking, slowly. Sunshine warm, a breeze blowing calmly. Walking behind the hearse, from the front of our church, over to our cemetery. Then the bell rang.
I was surprised. And I was surprised that I was surprised: I had planned the whole service, coordinated with the musician, the funeral director, the family. I knew all the details of our activity and our procession, walking over to the graveside. “Who’s ringing the bell?” I thought.
It was loud. The most distinguishing feature of the historic chapel at Macedonia Church is its bell. But we don’t ring it often enough. People for miles around can hear the bell. I like the bell. But most of all, what I noticed was the reaction of the people. Many who were walking with us, looked up. They looked to the church. It seems then to me, that many, as I did, looked up to God in that moment, as the bell rang.
“I’m glad to hear that bell.” The widower said to me, as we walked on.
It meant a lot. The bell was a “calling.” Sure, it reminded me of death (The “for whom the bell tolls,” – it’s me. I will die some day.) But there, on the walk to the graveside, the bell called me back to joy. I am alive right now. Today I’m living. Today I have – just this moment perhaps – the task of living….with joy.
When you hear a bell, any kind of bell, do you look up – up to God? Are you called to joy?