Sound the alarm

"Blow the trumpet in Zion;
sound the alarm on my holy hill.
Let all who live in the land tremble,
for the day of the LORD is coming.
It is close at hand—

“Even now,” declares the LORD,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
Rend your heart and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity.

Who knows? He may turn and relent
and leave behind a blessing—" Joel 2:1,12-14a


Here in Alexandria Bay, like many small villages of its kind, we are blessed with an awesome volunteer fire department - men and women who work very hard, at times risking their own lives to ensure the safety and protection of the community. These brave and committed souls have to be ready at any instant to drop whatever it is they are doing when an emergency arises.

How do these folks know when an emergency arises you urban dwellers might inquire? THE Alarm - A super loud air horn that shakes the windows and sends my cat scurrying with panic and fear through the house. An alarm that can be heard for miles away. When this alarm sounds, volunteer firefighters drop their dinner utensils, throw on their boots, hurry to their trucks and head off to the fire hall. The rest of us in the village listen and wonder what might have happened, all the while raising silent prayers up.

The alarm sounds - and people respond.

The prophet Joel sounds a window shaking alarm as well - one that begs response. Into the day to day goings on of life, amidst the busyness and banality of daily routine - God sounds the alarm.

The alarm is a reminder that the Lord is returning, and the fact that He is returning ought to make a difference in how we live our lives. Life is more than the sum of our investments. Life is more than the argument we have with our neighbor. Life is more than what we will eat for dinner. Life is more than stuff, and pleasure, and me and you. How much has sin blinded us from the reality of our present situations.

As we enter into the period of reflection and self assesment called Lent - God sounds the alarm. The alarm reminds us that life is about pleasing God and planning for His return. This may upset our way of life - but then again maybe our lives need some upsetting.

The volunteer firefighters respond immediately by running towards the emergency. Joel begs us to respond to God's alarm with similar immediacy and urgency - return to God.

Whenever you choose to do so, no matter what you have done, or how far you have strayed - Joel tells us that God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger. He will welcome, protect and bless all who respond to His alarm.

Be God's, Scott