Ringing the Bell By Dr. Juan Harrison
Ringing the Bell
Sometimes it happens early in life; sometimes it comes later. Poet John Donne once asked about whom the bell tolled for and answered his own question with, “It tolls for thee.” Most of us don’t think about what it will be like when our time on Earth ends if the Rapture doesn’t occur first. If the Lord tarries there’s a good chance that a number of us will finally reach that point of our life when our heart, lungs, kidneys, or brain start telling us we might wanna think about getting out the suitcase and prepare for our final journey. Sometimes you get a warning bell; sometimes you don’t.
I knew a man who lost his wife and told me about the loneliness he’d experienced in her absence. In time as different ailments continued to zap his strength and take the joy out of his life, he’d frequently say he didn’t want to live like this. For him it came down to quality of life.
My wife and I aren’t quite there yet, but we often say to one another how much we love and live for those visits with the grands. We can’t imagine life without them. They become more and more a reason for us to live as long as possible to see them grow up into wonderful human beings. As we both age we pray that our zest for life and our love for the grands doesn’t find it overtaken by the physical and mental woes that can beset us if we live long enough.
In the Bible we saw characters whose strength God said was not diminished before their death; others suffered a more normal fate like most of us will. Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to watch a number of folks start taking those final steps on life’s journey. If their minds remain clear you begin to see a transition. For some it may look like a soldier finally putting away his sword as he accepts that the battle is almost over. For some, it’s resignation. For others it’s frustration, often tinged with anger. For some it’s sadness as they think of leaving this world behind. For some, their faith kicks in as they claim a promise that they won’t have to cross Jordan alone.
I think one of the toughest assignments in life is to sit or stand by when a friend or loved one finally reaches that point where they stare their final opponent in the face and realize that this is it. There’ll be no bargaining, no questioning, simply an acceptance that the journey’s end is inevitable and life as we know it is wrapping up.
When we finally see the writing on the wall, we pray there is peace of mind as the words reflect, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Here’s hoping the letters don’t mutate into a message, “Depart from me; I never knew you.” No bargaining, no negotiation. What we invested in now gives us our dividends.
By Dr. Juan Harrison
