The Bell (05/03/2024)

I was looking at the magazine rack, searching for something to read while I waited. Then I heard it. The Bell! Someone was ringing the bell! I walked to the hallway and looked down the hall. A slight woman with a scarf head covering was ringing the bell. I turned to the others seated in the waiting room. Joyfully I told the others, “Let’s celebrate. She rang the bell.” To some that might not make sense, but to those of us in the cancer treatment clinic, we knew what that meant. Her treatment was done for now and there was no sign of cancer.

I remember the story of my father ringing the bell. I remember the video sent to me on my phone of my sister ringing the bell. I remember the day I stepped into that same hall with my husband, Kenneth, and I rang the bell. His face publicized our joy and the bell beckoned the world to notice. Being done with those difficult treatments and to have a reprieve, even if for only a short time, it is such a gift. And the bell informs those who know the journey so they can celebrate with another.

There’s a bell at our local market with a sign below it that advises customers to ring the bell if they had a good shopping experience. I have rung that bell numerous times. I must admit I’ve only heard another ring it once. Maybe I’m blessed to have good experiences. Maybe others are “bell shy.” I wish more people would ring the bell.

And I wish there were more bells in our world that would toll as signs to others that something wonderful is happening. I wish the sound of those bells would make people stop and wonder about what goodness and graces are abounding in their midst. I wish we were more set on listening for bells than on listening to the 24-hour news cycle that could give one the impression we are lost and there is no hope.

If there was a bell in your life, when would you want to ring it? Who would you want to know the good news?

As followers of Jesus, as His disciples on “the Way,” we are called to be people eager to share the good news. We are to be “the bells” within our society – the heralds that tell of goodness and graces and love wonderfully manifested for us all. Are we doing our job? Are we heralds?

I’ve had to ask myself that question a lot recently. It is so easy to get distracted in this world and to fail to do what we are called to do and fail to be whom we are called to be in the moment. May this month of May in which we celebrate our Blessed Mother be a time for us to meditate upon her example, her discipleship, her witness to her beloved Son.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.