"Be not deceived;
God is not mocked:
for whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap."
- Galatians 6:7

It won't be long now until spring blossoms before our eyes again.  (OK, so it's a little early to be thinking of short sleeves and cookouts, but it won't be TOO long... :-)

And spring always means spring break.  My wife teaches high school and we always look forward to spring break together.

And spring break together means a camping trip to our favorite state park in Arkansas, Devil's Den. (I know, kind of odd to think about Christians camping in the Devil's Den, but I didn't name the park. :-)

And Devil's Den State Park means a trip inside the bat cave.

Yep, the BAT cave.  It's a rather large cave that houses some 10,000 bats at any given time.  Of course, they are hibernating and won't bother you as long as you leave them alone.

What is interesting about this cave, and most caves, is how your voice echos in there.  Depending upon what you say to the echo, it can be a pleasant or unpleasant visit.

For instance, if you were to yell out, "I love you.  You are a super person and I enjoy visiting with you. You are important to me." then suddenly from the darkened corridors of the cave someone calls back to you, "I love you.  You are a super person and I enjoy visiting with you.  You are important to me."

I like that.  Sounds great.

But, on the other hand, if you yell out, "You're stupid.  I can't stand you.  I wish you would go away and leave me alone," then suddenly a more dismal and discouraging message comes back to you, "You're stupid.  I can't stand you.  I wish you would go away and leave me alone."

Oooh.  That's ugly isn't it?

Whatever you say to the echo, it sends it right back to you.

Reminds me of what the Apostle Paul wrote in Galatians...

..."Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Galatians 6:7)

What Paul was basically saying is that life is kind of like an echo...

...whatever you say to it, it will say back to you.

If you sow pleasant words, good deeds and love, you'll find that those kinds of things are done back to you.

And, of course, if you sow rude and insensitive words, bad works and evil, you'll find that those kinds of things keep happening to you as well.

While you may never make your way to Devil's Den State Park in Northwestern Arkansas, you will make your way through life today.  The question is...

...what will you say to it along the way?