The Bell - A Clarification

It seems a clarification of my little parable yesterday may be needed. In my defense, my brain has always thought in a weird, abstract kind of way. I just tend to hold on for the ride!

The long, low bell tone is the voice of God. A still, small voice that calls us, and we are to follow that voice on the path it leads us. A straight and narrow path, because the message is simple and direct; love God and love each other. No deviations, just love.

But we are human. We begin to trust our own direction, rather than simply follow the voice that leads us. (Side note: following my own directions once landed me in Indiana, when I was actually headed for Southern Kentucky - just saying) When we start to trust ourselves and our own guidance, then other voices begin to be heard. Some of them may even seem to be in harmony with God's voice, at first. Soon though, these voices become more and more important, and take us off the simple straight and narrow path onto a path not of love, but corrupted.

"If you don't vote for (political party inserted here) you're not a Christian!"

If you don't agree with my views on (immigration, healthcare, civil rights, gun laws, child rearing, pants on left or right leg first, chicken or egg first, etc.) then you are not only not a Christian, you are the anti-Christ!"

On the many different social medias we now have, on television and radio, and far too often in our churches and work places, these voices flow freely and loudly. And the voice actually behind these voices reveals itself. Hate. Hate generated by fear. Hate that uses fear, manipulates it, whips it, and us, into a frenzy. Now here is my point. Anything, repeat ANYTHING, that does not come from a place of God's love, is WRONG. I don't care how right the cause may seem, God is Love, and if there is no love, then God is not in it. Anything that calls away from God's love is wrong, because we focus on the cause, not God. We think we know the truth, when we only see through a glass darkly. Worst of all, we judge, as if we were gods, and think we can do the job God has expressly given to Himself only. There's a reason we are told to "judge not". We don't and can't ever have all the answers and details of someone else's heart.

Get off the paths the other voices lead us on. Get back on the path, straight and narrow, that God's voice has never stopped calling for. Love, in all things. Love others with God's love, even, especially, when our own fails. Love, because every cause not lead by love will ultimately destroy others... and ourselves. Love, because Love never fails.

The Bell

A bell sounds in the distance. It is low and deep and seems somehow true, and yet ominous, final. As if only its pealing should be heard. Only its pealing was worthy of listening. But that bell is in the distance, so far away.

Years ago we walked towards it, never straying from the path it showed, led by its single, melodious tone. Then other bells began to sound, at first harmonious, but soon producing a high, shrill discord that surrounded us, distracted us, even terrified us. Soon the lone bell could not be heard for the cacophony that surrounded us. We began to believe those bells were the true sounds that lead, and all but forgot our original path. Further we strayed, as the noise grew louder and louder, until the only noise heard above those bells was the screaming of our hearts.

Still, the lone, low bell rings. Slowly, steadily. Flee from the bells that took us away, bells of hate, intolerance, prejudice, fear. These bells ARE NOT TRUE, AND HAVE NO PART IN THE TRUTH. THE TRUTH IS NOT IN THEM. The low ringing we hear is love. Not of some, but all. Eliminate the others, for Love, and He who is Love, is the only truth, the only way, life. The others WILL destroy, that's what they are made to do. Love will last.