It’s a Bat!
It’s a bat!
Three words you most definitely do not want to hear when you’re winding down to go to sleep. It was 10:30 pm after a busy work week. Thoughts of relaxation and rest were filling my mind and I was looking forward to relaxing a little until our unwelcome visitor jolted everyone awake, including the dog.
I don’t know much about bats. I know they are active at night. They are not supposed to be inside. And some of them carry rabies.
This little creature probably weighed less than one pound. Not much bigger than the palm of my hand, this little guy (or girl) had wracked our brains. Both my husband and I took off running. Our dog (the brave one apparently) ran toward the bat like the boss she is.
As I sat in my bedroom trying to figure out what to do, I left my husband to catch and remove the bat from our home. Of course, I was googling how to remove a bat and texting my mom about our dilemma.
I was intrigued to discover that there are some bat species that are considered to be endangered. They are illegal to kill in some states and there are strict stipulations on catching them. The bat simply being a nuisance to a homeowner is not enough reason to dispose of them.
Are you for real?!
I was amazed at this, but I have never paid much attention to ever needing to know these facts. The bat was safely let back into the wild, where he or she belongs, far away from the interior of our home. My anxiety remained heightened as I was waiting for another “bird” to come flying by my TV screen.
We all face unexpected woes, don’t we? Some may be a test of faith while others a test of character.
James speaks in the New Testament about having faith under pressure.
James 1:2-8 MSG
Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.
I love how this version speaks - “If you don’t know what you’re doing.” There are a lot of things and moments in life in which I have no idea what I’m doing. Our bat scenario definitely ruffled my feathers and caused an extreme level of paranoia to surface.
If I learned anything here, it’s important to pay attention in life. Always be willing to learn to face your fears. If it scares you, remember it's okay to laugh about it when everything is said and done. There’s always a new experience around the corner.
