Unring the Bell

“Unring the bell,” Judge Lance Ito admonished the jury in the O.J. Simpson trial. That was the first setting I heard the phrase. I liked it. A couple of years later my Hebrew Bible Professor, John H. Hayes, instructed the class, “I need you to forget what you know.”  Moreover, he instructed us to read the Bible as if it was the first time. Ito's "Uring the bell" admonition came to mind. I tried earnestly to encounter the scriptures as new throughout out the yearlong course. The more I was able to leave my prior experience at the door, the more useful it was to pick it back up after class. Make no mistake, this was a struggle every single class session. I give the same admonition to students in my Hebrew Bible and New Testament courses.

 

Yesterday, I went out for a run on the route I use most often as it’s close to my home. The sun had not made its daily appearance. I was reminded that this is the time I often run when traveling. When out of town I am very mindful of weather, and surrounding as I run. I try to commit as much as possible to memory out on the road so I can add it to my travel journal and as well as posts on this site. I decided to try to unring the bell. I wanted to look at my own neighborhood and try to see it for the first time, as if I were a traveler new to the area.

 

Wow, was it difficult. All I could think about was the process. The shops, scenery, rolling hills, and even smells were all too familiar. I failed to forget what I knew. Afterwards I decided I should have crossed the street. That might have helped. Nonetheless, this experience will help me as I work with students in future class when I call on them to unring the bell on very familiar territory.

 

Run as if it's the first time.

 

Tom