live by the sting, die by the sting

St Basil tells us about industrious bees today in A Year with the Church Fathers.

He says that we can learn a great deal from watching bees. His only mistake is in thinking that the leader of the bees is a king, rather than a queen. And to be fair, it's hard to tell by looking.

He tells us that we need learn to be hard working and peaceful, like the bees. That the queen bee is not elected, but they follow her peacefully so it's not necessary for her to sting. And the ones who DO sting, in defense of the hive, give up their lives by doing so.

One thing to keep in mind as we take St Basil's advice, though, is that being industrious isn't everything. There were industrious Nazis, and that didn't mean they were doing good. We have to find the way that we can work hard, and bring about good in the world. Where our great passion meets the world's great need... that's where our calling is found.

What's your great passion?

God, thanks for giving us the bees to learn from.