Bat Theology

Bats give me the creeps! Yet, I have to accept them if what AP Reporter, Rudolph Schmid tells me is true: this greatly feared little creature of the dark far surpasses our vaunted modern technology.

Schmid suggests “Bat sonar is so much better than anything devised by humans.” He reports Brown University researchers admit, “the little creatures seem to enjoy rubbing it in.” The researchers admitted, “The bats were essentially turning to us and thumbing their noses.”1

Sonar systems operate by emitting sounds and listening for the returning sounds. The time it takes the bouncing sound to return suggests how far away something is and in which direction it is. A major factor in this research is the bat’s ability to differentiate between two echoes arriving almost simultaneously.

Researchers know electronic sonar discriminates between echoes twelve millionths of a second apart. Sophisticated technology shortens that time from six to eight millionths of a second. Bats, however, can reduce that time to two-to-three millionths of a second with apparent ease. This means the lowly little bat can tell the difference between two objects only 3/10’s of a millimeter apart - about the width of a pen line (emphasis added).

Although the United States Navy trained the versatile dolphin to help them in finding mines in the ocean, researcher Simmons suggests that bats promise faster performance and broader-based learning potential for research. They may not do quite as well chasing insects through the trees in the nighttime darkness, but they continue to show up fat, happy, and largely successful.

Humans have a lot of work yet to do to perform as easily as those quick and cooperative bats observed by Simmons. However, this gives me a better understanding of what I would call “bat theology,” for even the little bat that makes my hair stand on end (which I find so creepy) adds serious evidence to the perception that God is continually trying to get our attention, even though some of us may find the fearful little creature rather frightening.

God leaves messages for us in various and sundry ways. Some times we are at home but screening our calls. At other times, we are simply out of calling distance. Most of the time we don’t really believe He would call us, so we hang up when He does call.

That little bat, like some of the bad experiences we often face, should obviously not be ignored. Rather than ignoring such wonders of our Heavenly Father’s creation, let us take a closer look at life. When we see life as it really is, we will find that instead of ignoring God and His creation we need to join the Psalmist in giving God our long overdue praise and adoration.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me. . .
How precious also are Your thoughts
to me, O God! . . .
If I should count them, they would be more in
number than the sand. . .
I will praise You,
for I am (we are) fearfully and
wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works (Psalm 139:24, 17-18, 14).
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1 Battle Creek, MI. “Enquirer,” Oct. 13, 1998, “Bat sonar puts human technology to shame,” by Randolph E. Schmid, reporting on Oct. 12, 1998 “Proceedings of the National Academy of Science,” by James Simmons.

From Warner's World, that's my take on today, still
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