DEVOTION / It's a bat omen

I recently visited the church where we attended when our children were young.  We enjoyed lots of good memories at that church. Sunday School, VBS, and other events and milestones.

The night of the bat

One of my most vivid memories is The Night of the Bat. About ten of us were gathered around a cafeteria-size table for our Sunday School Teachers Meeting when a large bat swooped in. The ladies who saw it first let out screams that would have made any horror movie director proud! Everyone hit the deck and headed for the doors.  No one in that room was a big fan of bats.

Bats in the Chinese language

That memory came flooding back when I came across the idea that the bat is considered a sign of good fortune in China. The article pointed out that the word for bat (fu 蝠) and the word for good fortune (fu 福) sound identical, making bats a common symbol motif in Chinese art.

Added to that is the idea that bats are usually shown upside down because the word for upside down (dao 倒) sounds the same as the word arrived (dao 到). Thus comes the belief that an upside-down bat means blessings have arrived!

The five Chinese blessings

An image of five bats together is said to represent the Five Blessings (wufu 五福). Those blessings are long life, wealth, health, virtue, and a peaceful death. I think that seeing five bats swooping down on you in America would not generally be interpreted as a good omen.  For Americans? Definitely not omens of long life and health!

 God’s Blessings!

The Bible, though, does talk much about the blessings of long life, wealth, health, virtue, and a peaceful death. The key is not found in bat watching, but in the words of Almighty God.  It is God alone who can grant such blessings.  The words of 1 Peter 3 remind us that revering Christ as our Lord (v. 15) is the true key to living a long life and seeing good days (v. 10).

316NOW shares from the Bible the truths of what brings spiritual health and wealth.  In Jesus alone is perfect virtue found.  Knowing Jesus brings peace of mind in the face of death, and more than long life, it extends the promise of life eternal.

Prayer: Loving Lord, we humans tend to look for tokens and signs of good luck. How easily we are deceived! Send your Holy Spirit in His mighty power to change hearts and minds. Lead all to the true understanding that in You alone are the true blessings of life found.

by Dave Payne