December can be a challenging month in the apiary. Four years ago, daily temperatures averaged 10degrees below normal which, together with some strong winds, meant that the girls were unable to get out on their cleansing flights and the chances of a proliferation of nosema spore in the guts of the bees were increased. For the last two years (2016 and 2017) the temperatures have been 10 degrees above average and the girls have been rapidly consuming their stored honey supplies.
And then there is the occasional day in February when the temperature reaches the low 50’s and the activity in front of the hives provides a bright moment in the midst of the gloomiest days of the year. Those hives from which there is no stirrings are an anxious reminder of the challenges ahead.
Watching the bees make those short flights with the tell-tale brown splotches both on the snow and on the front of the hive prompts me to ask what it is that causes this warm, happy feeling. For example,
- Going through a hive without a veil and not getting stung.
- Finding the queen bee on the first frame I look at.
- A finger tip of honey straight from the hive.
- Watching bees bring pollen back from the fields.
- Finding a $20 bill in my coat from last winter.
- A good conversation.
- Getting a note from a friend in the mail box.
- A real person answering the phone when I contact a business with a question.
- An old friend reaching out via Facebook.
- Accidentally overhearing something nice being said about me.
- Watching the sun set or a full moon coming up over the horizon.
- Lying in a warm bed on a cold night, listening to the rain.
- No lines at the supermarket, or green lights on the way to work.
- Hot towels out of the dryer.
- Waking up and realizing I still have a few hours sleep.
- An unexpected check in the mail.
- A good hug.
- A brisk walk under a starry sky.
- Sitting on the porch swing in the evening.
- The red flash when the cardinal comes to the bird feeder.
- Humming birds feeding outside of the kitchen window.
- The first daffodil of spring.
- Sweet corn direct from the garden.
- The smell of fresh cut hay.
- A spontaneous picnic.
- An owl hooting at night or a fox barking in the woods.
- A train whistle in the distance.
- Having my check book balance or finding that my monthly credit card statement is lower than I had anticipated.
- Finding something I really need at a yard sale.
- Smiles.
- Having a grandchild sit on my lap, apparently content.
What is noticeable is that money plays little role in most of the events that bring joy to the soul. More often it is unexpected acts of spontaneous kindness or surprising sounds and visions of beauty. This is not to deny the importance of money, especially for those who are unfortunate not to have enough in a culture that extols materialism, but money hopefully is never an end in itself.
In 2002 Gallup conducted a poll of the perceptions of our dominant needs. The top five were
- To believe life is meaningful and has purpose.
- To have a sense of community and deeper relationships.
- To be appreciated and respected.
- To be listened to and heard.
- To have practical help in developing a mature faith.
It is doubtful that bees reflect on the meaning of life but certainly there is a sense of community, they seem to appreciate the role that each plays in the colony and the consistent interactions suggest that they listen to and acknowledge one another. Their discussions probably do not include getting more pay as they move from being nurse bees to foragers, asking for a corner cell with a view or wanting a gold key to the executive bathroom.
Our Green Cathedral 