Visit Seventy-five
The young boy is excited as he hurries down the busy, gold-paved streets of his city. This is
one of the most important days in the lives of heaven's inhabitants and every town, big or small, is
making arrangements for this special time. It's Christmas day.
Kevin is a little worried because it is almost time for the choir to sing. Today is the celebration
of God's special love-gift to mankind and no one should be late on this special day. Kevin knows the
choir leader, Brother Bill, will be unhappy if he is late.
Kevin does have a reason for his tardiness. He is holding tightly to a silver bell ornament that
he wants to place on the Christmas tree outside the little church at the outskirts of his town. He just
finished making the ornament and this caused him to run late this morning.
As he arrives at the little church, he hears the piano rendition of his favorite hymn, "O, Little
Town of Bethlehem", being played by Yvonne. The Christmas tree is located outside the church near
the front door for all to see. Kevin finds a vacant branch for his special ornament.
As he turns from the tree, he is consumed by God's love and is drawn to the very heart of his
savior. Joy and peace are overwhelming as Kevin floats in the arms of Jesus.
"I love you, Lord", Kevin says. "We honor you today in remembrance of your sacrifice and
love for us, your children."
Jesus replies, "Yes, my child, and there could be a moment in time that might be special for
someone else. Will you help me?"
"Yes, Lord. You know I will. What is your need?"
"I need to get a message to someone. Go with Blasdon. It won't take long and you'll be back
in plenty of time for the celebration."
********
Blevins is more than a little concerned. When he left the motel in town this morning, there was
only a little snow falling. The forecast didn't say anything about this blizzard he was traveling
through. Why was this happening to him? This is the reason he left this northern area, to get away
from this white-devil stuff called snow. It was snowing that day too.
He is driving very slow, just creeping along really, trying to find his way down this country
road. This is the same road he used many, many years ago on the way to a favorite fishing spot at the
river. Time has changed the features and landmarks he remembers from long ago. Now that the snow
has become thicker he cannot see clearly and doesn't recognize the way.
He says aloud as he wipes the moisture from the inside of the windshield, "Mom, I wish I
hadn't promised you I would come back here. You shouldn't have asked me... you know how hard
this is."
Blevins' mother went home to heaven about a week ago. Before she died, she made Blevins
promise to come back to this place that changed his life years ago. She knew that he needed to forgive
himself, and more importantly, to get right with God.
He was afraid to turn the car around and go back as the road was very narrow and he might get
stuck. If that happened he would freeze to death after the car ran out of gas. He had to keep going and
hopefully find his way to the community he used to call home. So many years have passed and it
could be that no one lived there that he once knew.
"I can't see enough to find the split in the road and take the correct direction to the right. I can
only make out the left side of the road and I know that split is around here."
As he strains to find anything familiar to guide his way, he is startled to see a man standing on
the side of the road. When he comes closer, the man points to the right and Blevins turns the wheel in
that direction. Blevins is relieved that he found the fork and takes the correct road. He looks back, but
can't see the man. He assumes the man's house is nearby.
"How did he know that I needed to take the right fork in the road? Maybe the left fork is
impassible and he was telling me this is the only road still open. I'll have to come back this way to
thank him."
About an hour later, the snow hasn't diminished and Blevins is still creeping along, trying to
find his way. He exclaims, "Oh, no... don't let it happen!" The engine light on his dash is blinking a
dreaded message.
A short distance down the road his car sputters and comes to a stop. Blevins bangs his head on
the steering wheel in frustration. "What can I do now? I don't know how much further I need to go."
He bows his head and prays aloud, "God, I don't know where I am and I've never prayed or asked you
for anything. Please help me find the church... I don't know what to do... I'm lost... please help me.
There's no reason why you should... I've done nothing for you all these years... please help me,
God?"
As he sits and stares blindly at the thick, falling snow outside the cold car, he realizes that he
can hear a faint sound from outside the car. He rolls down the window slightly and listens. There it is,
the unmistakable sound of a bell.
"That must be the church bell... I believe the sound is coming from over there. I don't know
how far away it is, but maybe I can make it though the snow. It's better than freezing to death in
here."
Blevins gets out of the car and finds the snow is about a foot deep. He slowly plods his way up
the road, listening for the sound of the bell. The bell keeps drawing him further and further on this
snow-clogged path. His feet are frozen and the cold wind whips his body through his heavy coat, but
he keeps struggling toward the sound.
He is ready to give up when he spies the familiar steeple of a church. He remembers the church
is situated just off the road. His spirits are lifted as he hurries toward his objective.
The little door of the country church is decorated with an evergreen wreath. Blevins notices
that the church has deteriorated over the years. It needs painting and some rotting boards need
replacing.
He doesn't recall when it happened, but the bell isn't ringing anymore. He knocks on the door
of the old church, but no response. He bangs loudly on the old door hoping that possibly someone is
inside.
A man's voice from behind startles him, "What are you doing, Son? The Christmas service
won't start for over an hour."
Blevins turns to see an old man standing on the porch steps. He replies, "My car stalled down
the road and I'm freezing. Is there a place to get warm?"
"Why sure, Son... come next door to my home. Let's get you some heat."
After they get inside, Blevins takes off his coat and gets close to the space heater in the living
room. The old man brings him a cup of coffee and says, "My name is Martin, I'm the pastor of the
church next door."
Blevins exclaims, "I remember! You're Pastor Martin... You were the minister when we used
to live here. My name's Blevins... Blevins Stanton."
"Stanton... let me see... Oh yes, your parents are Melvin and Lilla Stanton. I remember now...
how could I forget...that was my first year as pastor here... that's been over thirty years ago. It seems
like just yesterday. I'm so sorry about your brother's death... It's been many years and the church
isn't over it. I don't guess we ever will really. Your family moved away so fast after his death and we
didn't know where you went. We wanted to stay in contact."
Blevins says, "We had to get away... Actually, my parents knew I needed to get away. I could
feel the looks of everyone, blaming me for his death. We started over again in a town down south."
"No one blamed you for Kevin's death. Why would they?"
Blevins looks down at the cup in his hands. He says, "I dared him to do it. He wouldn't have
done it if it hadn't been a dare. Everyone knew I was responsible... I knew it."
Pastor Martin asks, "What dare?"
"Before he left to go to church that morning, I dared him to climb the rope to the bell tower.
When he did, the bell broke loose and fell on him... and Kevin died."
"He wasn't climbing the rope... I was there that morning getting ready for the early service.
He just pulled the rope like he always did each Sunday. I watched the bell fall on him... it was
terrible... The doctors said it was instantaneous. I struggled myself for weeks thinking I might have
done something that would have made a difference. There just wasn't anything anyone could have
done. Oh, how I wished we had talked... I didn't know you felt responsible. You disappeared so soon
after the funeral that I didn't have a chance. You're not guilty of anything, Blevins. You've carried
this feeling for no reason. It was an accident... that's all."
Blevins breaks down and he bows his head as his shoulders shake with the released emotion.
He says though the tears, "I didn't tell anyone... not even Mom or Dad. I finally told Mom after Dad
died five years ago. I thought I caused Kevin's death."
After several seconds, Blevins composes himself and he continues, "Mom was so right. She
made me come back to face my guilt. It's kind of ironic when you think about it. I wouldn't have
made it here if it hadn't been for your church bell ringing to show me the way."
Pastor Martin asks, "What did you say? Bell? We don't have a bell anymore. We didn't
replace the bell after that day. It's down in the storage room. You couldn't have heard any bell... at
least not from this church tower."
"What are you saying, Pastor?
"I think God loves you so much he wanted you to make it here to find the truth and peace. I
think He had Kevin ring a church bell in heaven that helped you find the way."
Blevins says, "Can you help me, Pastor? The only way I'm going to find real peace is through
Jesus Christ."
********
Kevin and Jesus are standing beside the Christmas tree in front of the Chapel.
"Did I do all right, Jesus?" Kevin asks.
Jesus replies, "You did just fine, my child.
Kevin hears the ringing of his bell ornament on the tree. He asks, "What does it mean, Lord?"
"It means that your brother is coming to live with us forever. Go to the service and tell your
mother and father. You have another reason for celebrating today."
Kevin yells as he runs toward the church entrance, "Thank you, Jesus! Happy Birthday!"
Jesus calls back to him, "Merry Christmas, Kevin!"
********
....for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.
John Donne (1571 - 1631)
Dedicated to the memory of Ermal McGuire. He rang the bell at
our church until he became ill. God rang the bell in heaven
for Ermal to come home. He was ready... Are you?
Heavenly Visits mail to:visits@wt.net
© Copyright Jerry Mobley 2003
