I had to go to the hospital for bloodwork. I don’t mind bloodwork; I am not positive but I am pretty sure by now I could take my own blood and start my own IV, I’ve seen it done on me so many times! This time was a little different. They put the needle in the same way and used the same tubes. The amount taken was relatively small compared to the last time (5 vials vs 16). Then the always fun aim test. Last week I talked about Paul using, “falling short” which is based on a military idea of missing the mark in archery. As I did the last test I thought to myself, ‘self; if you were Paul writing to the modern day version of the Romans, you would probably have used this sample cup metaphor instead of the bow and arrow.’ If you don’t know what test I am talking about I will not try to explain it other than to say if you miss the mark they make you drink water and do it again!

I know, too much information! Even worse you didn’t need to know anything more than I was getting a test done in a part of the hospital I had never entered before. Due to the type of test, the only department that could take my blood to perform these tests was oncology. I wanted to yell, “I don’t belong here, I’m just passing through, no cancer here, just a special blood test that can’t be done anywhere else” but that would be hurtful to all those who did have cancer. While I have no fear of hospitals, this part of the medical system is the one place that I would like to avoid. All my discomfort was suddenly replaced by silence. I looked down the hall and saw a bell. Maybe I should say The Bell! It was never rung while I was there for my short visit, I knew what it meant. You ring the bell when your treatments are over.

In life, If we follow the treatments, stick to the prescribed regiment, I believe we too can ring the metaphoric bell as a symbol of completion of every season. I am sure that some of the people who were at the hospital for cancer treatments look at The Bell and say, “one day I’ll ring it, one day I will be done and can get on with living.” If you are still here (you’re reading this so you must be) there is still work to be done, still bells to be rung but:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV)