September 19, 2025

IT TOLLS FOR THEE

John Donne (1572-1631) – Meditation 17

No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent; a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less… Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

Personal Challenge

All human life is precious. All human life is sacred. As followers of Christ, we believe and proclaim that all humans have been, and still are, created in the image of God. No matter what choices a person makes, whether good or bad, saintly or sinful, they are still special in God’s eyes and loved by Him. His expectation of His followers is that we love others as He would. So, it is possible to challenge a person for their actions in love and not diminish them. It is possible to mourn for a person who has had their life taken from them and still disagree with their actions or words that were contradictory to God’s truths. Godly love for a person does not require an acceptance of their ungodly beliefs and behaviors. As John Donne articulates here, we are all intertwined and interconnected. Division and divisiveness only kills us all with small, little pricks. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!