I can almost see out of my right eye again. Over the weekend, while I was pulling horse nettle from my garden before it could spread, a wasp flew into the small space between my eyes and my glasses. We both panicked...
To see the beauty and be curious about a wasp that stung you takes higher-plane thinking. I think of Richard Rohr's quote, "Everything belongs", but didn't know that applied to wasps, and surely this doesn't apply to snakes. 😉
May we all be curious and see the beauty in each other, especially those who "sting" us. And may we come to recognize and own our propensity to sting, as well.
I had similar thoughts running through my mind as I was reading. Appreciate your posting posting. It’s always reaffirming to meet up with similar thinkers and seekers too…
I had a similar experience with a honey bee, while in my car...stopping at a red light, windows open, I had a bee visitation between my left eye and the lens of my glasses. Luckily, I did not get stung--hope you can see straight and clear by now, well and ready to read this!
Every evening after supper, I need to walk through a thick border of lavender, to get to my outdoor faucet to water the garden...the lavender is loaded with bumble bees! I just walk through the purple stalks while they hover and hum...I really believe the bees know me, and know I will not harm them. They go about their business, and I go about mine. A fine arrangement.
The gift lies in patience, the asking of questions, the seeking of understanding, the using of sight with which the heart is blessed ~ the irony lies in pain that that struggles to birth insight…& awaken me from within ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
Lovely post. Your curiosity is contagious...I just had to see what the face of a Red Paper Wasp looks like. The detail is amazing! In the process I learned that Red Paper Wasps possess face recognition - they view faces 'holistically'!! So, if you do have another 'bee visitation' don't be surprised if he swoops in to take a close look to see if he recognizes you! :) And I just love the idea of slowing down long enough to see each other holistically.
Is it not amazing how much science has revealed about the nature of God’s creatures?! I just love The Americas, narrated by Tom Hanks. And National Geographic’s recent ‘bee’ documentary. Barbara’s detailed writing of her experience with the paper wasp and your added comment on how they view faces is intriguing as well! 🙏🧐🙏
What a beautiful (albeit - probably a very sore eyelid) post. Sorry about the sting but your curiosity helps many of us better understand the role of a paper wasp. Generated my curiosity of bugs in my area and their role (or not) in our lives and, am better for it.
And remember this - there's only a few molecules of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon and hydrogen that separate you (and all of us) from not being one or vice versa. Good thing it wasn't an elephant.
I'm reading David MacFarlane's Is A River Alive? and a third of it is about the Chennai River in India that's been completely polluted. The efforts to restore it are led by a science educator who is also an entomolgist. He allows wasps and spiders to share his apartment so he can get to know them better. It's the best book this retired bookseller has read this year, I think you'd like it.
I want to be a curious person, not a reactionary one. That reactionary, swatting – back reflex of mine is proned into me. I have to learn to recognize and want to deal with my proned into stuff. Proned is an oft-used word in Joel Chandler Harris's stories.
I wonder in a perfect world how would we coexist? The other week a fly flew in my ear ...i nearly beat my head off after freaking out!!! Im glad no permanent damage was done to your eye...your very lucky and perceptive.
As I am reading about the Supreme Court rulings pertaining to immigrants today, I am taking your beautiful story to heart. If we could only stop and see the divine in everyone and everything. I love your curiosity. I wonder if I could have mitigated the wasp threat while feeling a need for survival. Now I am curious about another way.
To see the beauty and be curious about a wasp that stung you takes higher-plane thinking. I think of Richard Rohr's quote, "Everything belongs", but didn't know that applied to wasps, and surely this doesn't apply to snakes. 😉
May we all be curious and see the beauty in each other, especially those who "sting" us. And may we come to recognize and own our propensity to sting, as well.
I had similar thoughts running through my mind as I was reading. Appreciate your posting posting. It’s always reaffirming to meet up with similar thinkers and seekers too…
Beautifully said, Janet 🩵
Yes. I agree Mary Ellen. Janet said it well. ❤️
I had a similar experience with a honey bee, while in my car...stopping at a red light, windows open, I had a bee visitation between my left eye and the lens of my glasses. Luckily, I did not get stung--hope you can see straight and clear by now, well and ready to read this!
Every evening after supper, I need to walk through a thick border of lavender, to get to my outdoor faucet to water the garden...the lavender is loaded with bumble bees! I just walk through the purple stalks while they hover and hum...I really believe the bees know me, and know I will not harm them. They go about their business, and I go about mine. A fine arrangement.
I love "bee visitation."
All means all! Thank goodness for the boundless inclusion of God!
❤️
I like to think that my bees know me and I’m getting to know them. 😉
The gift lies in patience, the asking of questions, the seeking of understanding, the using of sight with which the heart is blessed ~ the irony lies in pain that that struggles to birth insight…& awaken me from within ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
Perfect. This week’s study on the fruits of the spirit is on patience. I will take your comment with me to group as I tell Barbara’s wasp story. ❤️🙏❤️
Beautiful!
I’m chuckling. It sounds so much like turn the other cheek… A wasp stings you in the eye and you find its beauty that’s God.
Lovely post. Your curiosity is contagious...I just had to see what the face of a Red Paper Wasp looks like. The detail is amazing! In the process I learned that Red Paper Wasps possess face recognition - they view faces 'holistically'!! So, if you do have another 'bee visitation' don't be surprised if he swoops in to take a close look to see if he recognizes you! :) And I just love the idea of slowing down long enough to see each other holistically.
Is it not amazing how much science has revealed about the nature of God’s creatures?! I just love The Americas, narrated by Tom Hanks. And National Geographic’s recent ‘bee’ documentary. Barbara’s detailed writing of her experience with the paper wasp and your added comment on how they view faces is intriguing as well! 🙏🧐🙏
What a beautiful (albeit - probably a very sore eyelid) post. Sorry about the sting but your curiosity helps many of us better understand the role of a paper wasp. Generated my curiosity of bugs in my area and their role (or not) in our lives and, am better for it.
And remember this - there's only a few molecules of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon and hydrogen that separate you (and all of us) from not being one or vice versa. Good thing it wasn't an elephant.
I'm reading David MacFarlane's Is A River Alive? and a third of it is about the Chennai River in India that's been completely polluted. The efforts to restore it are led by a science educator who is also an entomolgist. He allows wasps and spiders to share his apartment so he can get to know them better. It's the best book this retired bookseller has read this year, I think you'd like it.
Just received it in the mail. Thanks for making sure I knew about it.
I want to be a curious person, not a reactionary one. That reactionary, swatting – back reflex of mine is proned into me. I have to learn to recognize and want to deal with my proned into stuff. Proned is an oft-used word in Joel Chandler Harris's stories.
True. My husband wears a bee hood.
I wonder if I can be more curious about the people who ‘hurt’ me?! Thank you for this Barbara.
I suspect I need to examine my own reaction firstly. sigh
I wonder in a perfect world how would we coexist? The other week a fly flew in my ear ...i nearly beat my head off after freaking out!!! Im glad no permanent damage was done to your eye...your very lucky and perceptive.
Curiosity and wonder - such wonderful gifts. I call it seeing with surprised eyes.
Another wonderful reflection, Barbara. Thank you!
As I am reading about the Supreme Court rulings pertaining to immigrants today, I am taking your beautiful story to heart. If we could only stop and see the divine in everyone and everything. I love your curiosity. I wonder if I could have mitigated the wasp threat while feeling a need for survival. Now I am curious about another way.
So true! Thank you.