BATS IN THE BELFRY

We had a bat in the house last night. It was the first bat invasion in several years. Before we had a new roof put on and had some holes repaired around our chimney, we had frequent winged visitors; but that was over twenty years ago. I don't know how this little creature got in. However, it was causing consternation among some members of the family, so I set out to hunt it down. I used to use a tennis racket, I would just stun them and release them outside. I haven't used a tennis racket for what it was intended, in over forty years, and I don't know where it is. I tried a broom and an old hat [the soft one I gather eggs in]. I trapped the creature in the downstairs bathroom. I tried several times to whack it with the broom. Nothing. Finally he/she started landing on things and I tried to catch it in my hat. Twice, it landed on the window screen and I was able to cover it with my hat. If I had something stiff, like cardboard to slide between the hat and the screen it would have worked. As it was, I tried to squeeze the hat brim together trapping the bat inside. Twice it escaped just when I thought I had it.

Suddenly the bat was gone! I searched every inch of the bathroom. No bat. Then I became aware of an aperture between the bathroom and the laundry room; it is covered with a decorative grate, sawed out of wood by Jamie. It is at the ceiling level and has openings big enough to let a bat pass through. Its purpose is to help level temperatures between the two rooms, especially in Winter; however, it became the great bat escape.

We couldn't see the bat anywhere. Hours later, it emerged from the laundry room flying in that dipping, dodging pattern that bats have perfected. Three, four times it raced through the living room, then, it vanished again. Waited, with broom at the ready, no bat. Jamie went to bed, after a careful inspection of the room; she doesn't like the idea of a bat flying over head as she sleeps. I stayed up hoping to trap it on the screen porch. I thought, but I am not a bat, it would fly where it would be closest to the outside. Once it was on the screen porch I could close the inside doors, open the outside door and merely shoo it out. Good plan, but the creature did not appear again. I went to bed about 12:30. This Morning we searched the premises. No bat.

I hope we don't have to go through this again tonight!

Speaking about bats; how many times, when we get into an argument, do things quickly deteriorate into some version of who is the craziest? If we take notice, the argument is rarely focused on the thing or infraction that caused the initial concern. Someone feels impinged upon and then, suddenly somebody's feelings are hurt, and then it can become a competition over who can best insult the other person.

We are always convinced we are right, or we wouldn't be arguing. Who started it? Who won't quit? Who is the most despicable? Who is the most dishonorable? We can be coolly logical or passionately emotional, but the nut of the argument is, who is more wrong. In our conviction of our riotousness we can do much temporary damage to the relationship. Ego smashing, of this kind, can actually enrich a relationship, but there are much less painful ways to do it.

How, why, do we get caught up in these things? When we get to the place, where we know we are absolutely lovable, we won't react to someone else's comment, no matter how inflammatory or despicable. We will know they are in some pain. We will step away, knowing that at this moment, we can only have compassion for them.

Well, were not there yet, but we are getting there. We can imagine being that secure in ourselves. In the meantime, when we find ourselves, angrily arguing our riotousness, remember there is always a way to stop the escalation. We can always just quit. We don't have to have the last word. We can't end on a winning note. When we are arguing about whose the craziest- we are both nuts.

As we grow in appreciation of how loving and loved we are, these confrontations will become fewer and fewer and much attenuated. The solution, as always, is love. All the problems in the world originate from our lack of love of ourselves.

When we are loving ourselves, we don't attack. When we are loving ourselves, we don't take offense.

I repeat; it would be very benefiting to spend some time, every day, emerged in a vast, quiet place of loving energy. Try it. Sit back. Close your eyes. Imagine being embraced by a Universe of Love. Imagine love penetrating to the core of your being. Imagine the love from your core pouring out to greet the Love of the Universe. Yes, we are One with the Universe.

Love and Peace, Gregg