Gone Batty?

Bats are the only true flying mammals that are primarily nocturnal animals. Occasionally, sometime before sunset, many fly early in the evening capturing insects. Being mammals, bats have hair and they give birth to living young and feeding them on milk from mammary glands. Bats are more abundant in the tropics and there are more than 900 species of bats worldwide.

Beyond the common myths that bats can’t see, it is scientifically known that bats can see better than we do at night and many bats can “see” in the dark by using echolocation (or sonar). Echolocations are pulses of very high-frequency sound (inaudible to human ears) at a rate of a few to 200 per second. Bats listen to the echoes reflected back to them and they can discern their flight path. Their ability is so acute that they can avoid obstacles such as a thin piece of thread in complete darkness and are also able to capture tiny insects while in flight.

In the world of pain and sorrow and prayers that seem to go unanswered, sometimes there appears to be no hope for the future, especially when you cry out and all you can hear is an echo. Climbing high into the mountains one can scream and hear the echo pierce the sky ringing back with what seems to be an answer. “Hello?” The echo comes back repeating in harmony: ”Hello?” It’s almost like looking in a mirror. You can see your reflection and now your voice comes back giving you the same reflection you once blurted out. “Where are you?” Still being consistent, the voice rings back: ”Where are you?” Sometimes we get frustrated with the answers we get back. Then we blurt out, “I’m here stupid” and as it forcefully goes out into the land, it bounces back threefold as it answers to you, ” I’m here stupid”.

Perception plays a key role as we begin to communicate. Sometimes we do not realize what we are sending off by our body language or by our words. Without thinking or realizing the surroundings that we put ourselves into, we get upset. Sometimes through frustration or anger we blurt out, “You’re the one that is stupid”, and yet life throws its same response in unison to us as it echoes back from the mountaintops, “You’re the one that is stupid.” Have you ever gone into a cave or a cavern? You can make a sound and it echoes back to you. Whether you are on top of the world or whether you’re down in the earth, there is always an echo wherever you go. Does it ever make you stop and think, realizing that most likely you will get back what you are putting into it?

“Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return." Luke 6:38

Hello!”

The echo rings back positive with no question as it shouts back, “Hello!” You can hear the enthusiasm coming back in your own voice from the echo. Mustering all the strength you have left in you, you begin to yell. “You are a great person!” And being in consistency, it rings back like if you were looking at a reflection of yourself in the mirror. “You are a great person”. Whatever we put into our lives is what we will receive back.

There might be a person that perceives you different than you perceive yourself. When you believe you are a good person knowing that you give to others and someone indicates that they don’t think you are, it causes you to evaluate yourself. When you know your own heart, then you will know their perception is not a true reflection of who you are. It is just a delusion that may force you off your beaten path of service if you allow it. It is my prayer that you won’t let that happen.

Life is filled with negativity. I wonder how many of us are negative against life or even ourselves? Want to stop the cycle of feeling bad? Want to stop the cycle of wondering if someone will treat me right? Want to stop the cycle of feelings of how you feel?

Listen to your echo in life. Just as the bats use echo to guide them in the darkness, we too can use our echo of our voice to guide us through our times of darkness. Listen to the echo and be like a bat and allow the echoes to guide you. If we are made in HIS image shouldn't the Bible be an echo to our life? Remember what we give out to others is what we will receive in return. If we are judgmental, then others will judge us in the same manner. If we are forgiving then others will be forgiving in the same manner as we are. If we play with people’s emotions then it will be returned to us. “Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.” Luke 6:31

Okay. I know what you are thinking because I have been there too. There are some that you give to and you feel spent because there is nothing coming back in return. Remember echo has to have something to bounce off of. What if a person is foggy like a mirror? You can’t see your reflection. What if a person doesn’t realize how to give and has not elasticity to return anything to you? This is when we have to move in a different direction until we find an echo that is able to give.

Hello? Hello? It makes a difference in how we believe in ourselves. It makes a difference in how we believe in ourselves. I did that on purpose so you may understand that you are a good person. God made you in HIS IMAGE. If HE gives us His love shouldn’t we love as well? What about the person that can’t give back? You just keep on loving them and maybe one day it will return to you. Remember everything we do is in HIS timing and not ours. Follow HIS voice. “And He was saying to them all, ""If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” Luke 9:34 Hello! You can do it! Just believe! It will be measured to you as it runs over into your lap. Are you listening to your echo? Does it reflect Jesus in your life?