Day 58 - Issue 34
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Psalm 119:102-104 NLT
'I haven’t turned away from your regulations, for you have taught me well. How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey. Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life.'
During the spring, as I was weeding a border in the Oratory garden, I became aware of the buzzing of a bee. Bees work continuously to collect pollen from flowering plants, one reason for ensuring gardens are filled with flowers from early spring into early winter. However, today was unusual for I consistently heard the buzzing of bees. Pausing to take a refreshment break, I stepped into the shed to remove my wellingtons and heard it. Later that day, I heard the buzzing again and eventually located a bee on some blossoms next door. I watched the methodical way in which it entered every flower to collect as much pollen as possible. I could see it building up around the bee’s legs. Returning to my task, I lifted a forkful of weed-laden earth and out fell a white-tailed bee, looking drowsy and disorientated. I gently picked it up with my gloved hand and placed it on a clear piece of ground. Jayne supplied a small mixture of sweetened water, believing it to be dehydrated from its ceaseless endeavours.
I felt God was speaking to me through the continuous awareness of bees I’d experienced that day. John Chrysostom, reluctant fourth-century Bishop of Constantinople, wrote: “The bee is more honoured than other animals, not because it labours, but because it labours for others.” Bees are also symbols of wisdom. They collect nectar from many flowers and turn it into nourishing honey. In this way they are, like the Christian, the willing servants of all. And bees work ceaselessly for the benefit of the hive, even being prepared to sacrifice their life for the hive’s survival. The hive and its precious honey are the sole purpose for the bee. The honey, freely shared for the good of humanity, is the gold from the hive. I too must consider what I’m working towards, and who I’m working for, and learn some lessons from the bee.
QUESTION: Are your eyes and ears open to what God is doing?
PRAYER: May I see your sweetness in my life today, Lord.
Released on 18 Sep 2020
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