For the last few years I have been fighting an ongoing battle. The battle is waged between May and October. The battle is with a bat. Ever since the addition was built to the church 6 years ago each Spring a bat takes residence in the peak above the door to the church. Usually I don't see the bat. But I know he has there because each morning there is a pile of bat crap right in front of the door. And every morning I sweep it away. Today - for whatever reason - I looked up and I saw a group of bats. I am not sure how many there are - looks like 6-10. I am not pleased with this. I can only imagine the pile I will find tomorrow morning!
But this has me thinking. Each morning I get to the church and sweep away - crap. Isn't that like what Luther in the Small Catechism encourages us to do when we awake? We wake up each morning and make the sign of the holy Cross and say "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." We recall and remind ourselves of our baptism and that we have been made children of God and our sins are forgiven. We also "drown the old Adam" - we set out to fight our sinful nature throughout the day.
Like the bats we keep making a mess. We sin. Jesus, out of His grace and mercy sweeps our sin away...as far as the east is from the west as the Psalmist writes. His life, death, and resurrection cleanse us of our sin. We are washed clean.
Tomorrow I will be interested to see what I find in front of the door!
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2 comments:
When I was in Ohio, I had a bat in my (basement) office at the church. Looking back, it was a sign of things to come. At least it's only the bat that's crapping on you.
Well, I guess I can't argue with that! :-)
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