I drove there in a dreary downpour, wound up and around to the very top of the parking ramp before I could find a single open space, made my lengthy way – hooded and bent against the rain – into the building. A place I’d like to rub off the map of my life.
But 90 minutes later, standing just inside the revolving exit door, I heard it. Joy… ringing on the air… fresh and tender… just beyond…
I lifted my head to peer through the glass, waited somewhat impatiently for someone to jostle their way in, allow me out where I could listen.
Then… there they were …
…Cathedral bells pealing out the noon hour, a bit of unexpected sweet for my bitter…
A memory swift as the scent of fresh bread baking rose on my heart. Mom’s tradition of adding that touch of sugar to the hard or unlovely moments of life.
Like…
Fresh baked snickerdoodles… or chocolate chip cookies… or homemade chocolate nugget cake with its marshmallowy White Mountain Frosting…waiting for me after a particularly hard test at school.
Or the promise of my favorite dinner simmering on the stove to carry me through the ordeal of getting my eye exam for my first pair of glasses, when I was sure I was doomed to a life of four-eyes torture…
Sometimes it was as simple as stopping for a bagel – to me, a treasured treat – after a doctor’s visit I’d dreaded.
Now, lifting my head to the towers from where the bells were ringing out the hour, I breathed their music in like a gift just for me…
Oh, I know they ring every day at noon. But a few minutes either way, and I would have missed their beautiful song this day, in this moment…
They took me back to college days when I often heard them coming from the chapel on the bluff. And to reading a novel set in England that told how, long ago, church bells rang there every morning, noon and evening to lift the villagers to prayer and thanksgiving… A touch of fairy tale loveliness in their everyday lives… as heard in Royal wedding processions…
How I’d love to live near a church that rings bells each day, I thought…
With Mom’s tender tradition so instilled in me, I’d already thought of spoiling myself with a fresh bakery cookie on the way home – even more of a treat since I’d been off sweets for awhile.
But… better yet…
He knew the perfect heartlift for me…and placed me there just in time to receive it.
And as I walked up the ramp tiers to my car, a fun old tune danced inside me…
The bells are ringing, for me and my gal…
And I thought, how like our God to add that “spoonful of sugar in such a delightful way.”
.
© Pam Depoyan
…sigh…
I, too, love the sound of church bells.
In my hometown growing up, our local church rang the bells at noon-time. So did the fire department – not bells, but the siren. It was to signify that all was well in the community. As abtrusive as the siren, it brought a sense of well-being.
But, the church bells…oh…they brought so much more. Rarely do I ever hear the church bells anymore, but when I do, they take me back and touch my spirit as if God, Himself, was saying, All is well.
Beautiful post, Pam and I love the song at the end. Man, we’re dating ourselves! LOL, but that’s OK…
We do have some wonderful memories!
Yeah, I don’t care about “dating myself.” That song and musical were filmed in my mom’s era, not mine. I just happen to love those old movies and all they gave us. And they still show them on TCM. Fun to see my friend’s kids enjoying them too…
Yes… nothing so lovely as church bells to lift our hearts! I hear them once in awhile around here but not right in my own neighborhood. I was visiting someone in Ohio once, and right there down their street, the bells rang out every day. MMmmm…. so lovely.
Thanks, Diane.
…as if God, Himself, was saying, All is well.
I like that, Diane. I did have that feeling too, as I heard these particular bells…
Words that especially encourage me… All is well.
Hi Pam & Diane, yes I too love to hear church bells ringing. We do have a Catholic Church that does ring their bell to announce that it is time to come to church. What I really enjoy is when I am walking up at the lighthouse sometimes I can hear it even from a distance and it does bring a smile to my face and joy to my heart. There is something so special about hearing church bells ringing.
I too love old movies and the songs that were in them.
MaryLou,
Now, that you mention about the Catholic Church ringing their bells…I hadn’t thought about this in a while. The CC in our community used to always do that, but I don’t think they do anymore…I wonder why…hhhmmm….sad…
P. S. My mother’s name was Mary and her middle name was Louise. Family all called her MaryLou. Everytime I see your comments on Pam’s blog, it makes me think of her. She died a long time ago. So, thanks for the memories!
That sounds so beautiful, MaryLou… hearing the church bells ringing from the lighthouse… I love that image. I can hear them sometimes at the little nearby lake because there is a church tower up behind it… There is an indescribable feeling when I hear them… Thanks!
Yes, there is always some sense of goodwill in the peals of church bells. As a child, I loved to hear them sounding at dawn to call worshipers up for the dawn services nine days to Christmas. Also during happy church blessings like baptism, weddings and festivities.
I do love how they make you celebrate, Pam….. as you put those analogies of treats from tests, out from a doctor’s visit, and sometimes after a fever is gone…. to your Mom’s goodies.
I delight with you, that instead of getting some sweets to take back home, God gave you a treat of bell music to celebrate your victories with.
Hugs and love from here.
Thanks, Lolita! Sounds like you have some lovely memories of church bells in your life too. I like that Christmas memory.