You Can't Un-ring A Bell

Once again my inspiration for a post is coming from Dr. Brown, my Intro to Lit instructor. Dr. Brown said that her Mom had said to her that "you can't un-ring a bell".

This seemed profound to me at the time and I began to think of all the implications that this saying could have. How many purposes does a bell serve in our lives? What do bells symbolize in our culture?

There are door bells, dinner bells (I don't care what you call me as long as you call me for dinner), school bells, jingle bells, church bells, the Liberty Bell, wedding bells, Christmas bells, festival bells, sleigh bells, hand bells, and ships bells. Who knew there were so many kinds of bells?

Church bells ring to signal a call to prayer. Wedding bells ring after a couple has completed their vows. Bells were rung at funerals signifying the passing of a life. These bells represent commitment. A commitment to God, a commitment to each other, a commitment to eternity.

Dinner bells are rung to call families together for a meal. Christmas bells are rung to signify the birth of a saviour. Hand bells are rung together to create music. These bells represent celebration. The celebration of the community of a family, the celebration of an invitation to new life, celebration of harmonies and melodies.

None of these bells can be un-rung. Once the clapper strikes the bell the tone has sounded and cannot be taken back. So it is with many activities in the day of a life. Words are spoken, actions are taken, ideas are thought. These bells will not un-ring. Each have consequences. Some positive, some not, some life changing, some not. Some affect many, some affect few. "You can't un-ring a bell".

What bell have you rung? What bell are you ringing? What bell will you choose to ring? "You can't un-ring a bell".