A Tiny Bee with A Big Messagefeatured

“Above all, send the bees love. Every little thing wants to be loved.” 

― Sue Monk Kidd, The Secret Life of Bees 

I grew up petting bees. Every recess, my BFF Laura and I would flock to the patchy green grass in front of the old brick schoolhouse to blush our cheeks with yellow dandelion flowers. Black and yellow striped bumble bees hovered and buzzed around us. When their plump bodies landed on the sunny weeds, we would gently pet them. Our fuzzy friends always seemed to enjoy it. 

The bees did not fear us, and we did not fear them. Maybe this is why we never got stung, or worried about getting stung. Maybe it was growing up in the high altitude mountains, like wildflowers, that taught us how to harmoniously be; be one with nature.

I am forty years old now, and still some of my dearest friends are bees. We always seem to find one another, and each time, I feel delighted and honored by their presence. 

Early this morning a bee blew in through the bathroom window and was quivering on the cold tile floor. I asked silently, from my heart to the bee’s heart, Would you like to climb onto my finger so I can bring you to a sunnier window? 

The bee accepted the invitation. 

Bo, my two-year-old, said, “Awe,” and watched closely as love poured through his empathic eyes. 

When we reached the hallway where a wide sunnier window awaited, the bee remained perched on my finger, not wanting to leave.

Bo reappeared to join us, carrying with him the diaper cream. “Bee,” he said. “Ouchie.”

“Did you bring that to help the Bee?”

“Yeah.”

“I don’t think he needs any diaper cream but that was sweet of you to think of that.”

The Bee and I looked at one another, eye to eye, and I heard, “Help Us.”

“We need your help. Humans help. Please no more pesticides. We need clean water, air, and flowers.” 

A series of thoughts and images emerged in my mind: hundreds of thousands of toxins and pharmaceuticals in the water, smog-coated air, interfering frequencies, chemicals on lawns, and growing food too.

I thought about the state of our human health, and how it is a reflection of the Earth’s collective wellbeing. Humans are keystone species, too.

Our human minds, bodies, and emotions have become direly disconnected from nature and the living voices of Spirit. This has become our greatest weakness and sickness. We are polluting every resource and friend.

“I will write about it,” I said to the Bee.

The tiny messenger said, “Thank You,” and took flight. 

A poem to inspire, Invitation by Mary Oliver.
 
"It could mean something.
It could mean everything.
It could be what Rilke meant, when he wrote:
You must change your life."