Bats as Symbols of Halloween
Happy Halloween! The phrase came from the phrase, “Hallow Eve.” “Hallow” is an Old English word that means “holy.” It is just like in the Old English Version of the Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father, who art in heaven, ‘hallowed’ be thy name.”
And so, “Happy Hallow Eve” means “Happy Holy Eve,” celebrating November 1, which is the Feast of All Saints.
The word “saints” in the early church meant all believers, both the living and the dead; therefore, it is the “Feast Day of All Believers in Christ.” “Happy All Saints Day” to all, too.
Nowadays, as you look for costumes and decorations in the shops for Halloween, bats are surely there. And in horror films—especially with vampire characters—there will usually be a bat in the film, and there will usually be a scene where the vampire will turns into a bat, or the bat turns into a vampire. Of course, these films gave the wrong impression about bats, and a prejudice against bats developed.
St. Columban said in one of his sermons: “If you want to know the Creator, you must first know His Creation.” Recently, this year, Columban missionaries organized a Bat Walk at the grounds of the Columban property in Solihull. I decided to join them, although honestly, I was reluctant at the beginning because of my fears about bats due to my lack of knowledge. I am glad there was a lecture part before the walk explaining the myths and real facts about the bats.
“If you want to know the Creator, you must first know His Creation.”
I am thankful to God I joined the bat walk because the myths and facts in my head about bats were clarified. The one portrayed in the films about association with vampires is just a myth; they do not attack humans—they even try to avoid us. The positive contribution of bats to the environment was also talked about, and the fascinating details of how God designed bats as a creature. My prejudices about bats were all wiped away. At the end of the lecture, I totally agreed with the lecturer when she said that “Bats are amazing.” My fear was replaced with excitement before we began and so I enjoyed the bat walk!
God’s Creation and the Story of Bats
Prejudice created by myths and false facts that happened to bats, also happened to humans like migrants. Hostility to migrants by some people in the United Kingdom happened to heighten just a few months ago, due to myths and false information about migrants. There are groups of people who became hostile to the presence of migrants in the country, and so there were riots in several parts of the U.K. There are even some groups of people attacking the accommodation of asylum seekers and refugees, or houses of migrants and the places where they are staying. Indeed, for me, it is heartbreaking to see it in the news.
I personally experienced hostility too from three boys. They were shouting something, initially I did not recognize the words, until one of them came up to me and said, “Excuse me. Excuse me.” I turned to him, thinking that he might need help. Then he said, “Go back. Leave UK.” I can’t believe it, I said to him, “What did you say?” He suddenly seemed frozen and was not able to repeat it. Then I realized that “Go back. Leave UK” were the words they were shouting. To my surprise, I replied to him, “God bless you.” Then they rode their bicycles and left me. I realized we were exactly in front of the church. I thank God that “God bless you” is what came out of my lips. Human as I am, I felt hurt, and it made me feel sad for several days.
Several days later, people with a positive attitude towards migrants put posters on the walls of several places in Birmingham that say, “Thank God for Immigrants.” I also heard that there were groups of people who did peaceful demonstrations in several parts of the country to raise awareness about the positive contributions of migrants. These lifted my spirit that there are also people around who are willing to balance what is going on with positive actions.
Prayers for Those Hostile to Migrants
Migrants are like bats; while the bees are resting at night, the bats go out to do the night shift. Migrants also contribute a lot to society. Migrants contribute economically, filling critical skill shortages, establishing businesses that create jobs. According to the Office for National Statistics, migrants contribute approximately £83 billion to the UK’s economic output annually, and the list goes on.
Yes, I am a migrant too. After fourteen years of serving here in the UK as a Columban lay missionary, helping the poor and marginalized in society, for me, they are now my brothers and sisters too. And, the UK is now my home as well. And so, I would like to share my prayers for those who are hostile to Migrants. With peace and sincerity in my heart, this is also my prayer for the three boys who said to me, “Go back. Leave U.K.”
Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. I believe some of them were just misinformed, but if there are people who will let them know the real facts about migrants, they will be enlightened and have a change of heart.
May God bless them with wisdom to know what is right and wrong, so they will not just imitate or be swayed by what they see others are doing, or what they hear others are saying. May they also listen to the other side of the story about migrants and see the positive contribution of migrants to society.
Please let them realize that migrants are also part of your beautiful, diversified creation, and that they must come to get to know too, to know you more. Amen.
Columban lay missionary Gertrudes Samson lives and works in the United Kingdom.
