The Sacred on the Street Devotion Three: Bells
This is the Third of the Lenten Meditations by Deb Murphy based on her exhibit, “The Sacred on the Street.” This week’s Devotion is “Bells.” You can download this devotion by going here.
“Thin places” are those places and spaces where we encounter God, the Divine, the Holy. The Jewish practice of reciting prayers at certain times (Daniel 6) was continued by the early Christians.. Historically, bells were used by the organized church to call people to prayer since there were no clocks in use until the 1300’s.
To this day, many churches have bell towers and/or carillons that are used on
Sunday mornings. In many churches of today, hand bell choirs add to the worship experience. The bells are not rung as a call to prayer, but as ‘special music.’ The Salvation Army bell-ringer pictured is not providing special music, but is using his bell to issue a call to help those less fortunate, those on the the margins, the homeless, the poor, the hungry, the ill, the abused. Indeed the list is long:
…for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave
me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was
naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I
was in prison and you visited me…just as you did it to one of the least
of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.
Matthew 25: 35-36, 40 (NRSV)
This young man, a volunteer, was out on a cold, wet night, hopping from foot to foot trying to stay warm, to call us to action on behalf of those less fortunate. Saying a prayer as we give our time, talent and resources to benefit “the least of these” just might be music to God.
Some questions to ponder:
•How often have I heard God’s call to action ‘out there’ in the world, on the street?
•How have I answered that call?
•Have I missed some of those calls?
Was it just failure to pay attention?
Have I intentionally ignored calls from God?
What stopped me?
O Divine One,
We come together to encounter, worship, praise and thank you for all your love and care of us. Help us to encounter You in the day to day of our lives, listening for your call. May we constantly and consistently show your love to a world that so desperately needs it. Amen
