the birds and the bees

Have you ever noticed that size really isn't that important? A young shepherd boy named David killed Goliath, a giant, with a slingshot. The other morning I watched a skirmish between the hummingbirds that frequent our backyard feeders and a bumble bee... and was a little surprised at the outcome!

I have eight hummingbird feeders in our yard and the hummers are quite territorial about them. When a hummer from a different "neighborhood" comes by for a drink, the "regulars" let him know in no uncertain terms that he is intruding on their turf. They loudly vocalize their "concern" and buzz him until the unwelcome interloper swiftly flies away. I have seen two hummers aggressively get in each other's faces until one leaves.

The other day I noticed a bumblebee trying to drink out of the hummingbird feeder. The yellow mesh-like piece is a bee guard and keeps the bees from freely accessing the syrup. The hummers use their long tongues and have no problem but bees have to wait until some drips down onto the bottom of the bee guard before they can get anything. Its purpose is to create an obstacle for the bees so they will give up and leave the feeder alone.

It clearly was not working since the bumblebee "texted" his friends that there was free food at the feeder and several more arrived.

When the hummers came to get a drink and saw the bumblebees, they backed up about eight inches and "yelled" at them but to no avail. Then, to my surprise, instead of aggressively challenging the bumblebees like they did the other hummers, they flew off.

Returning to whichever tree they have claimed as their own, they perched on a branch and, I imagine, pouted. They kept an eagle eye on the feeders and as soon as the bumblebees vacated, the hummers swooped in for a l-o-n-g drink all the while keeping watch for the return of the bumblebees. As soon as a bumblebee approached the feeder, the hummer flew back to his branch.

As I watched this drama unfold, several thoughts came to mind. Sometimes we give up because things seem too difficult... and then miss out on the "sweet syrup." What are the "bee guards" in my/your life? And other times we give up when someone bigger (maybe physically or intellectually or in authority) challenges us... and again, we miss out on the "sweet syrup." Is there a situation in which I/you need to persevere or be more persuasive?

The bumblebee has a secret weapon- his stinger. And we have a secret weapon, too- God, who equips us to do the things He has called us to do... just like He equipped David when he slew Goliath.

"God uses it [Scripture] to prepare and equip His people to do every good work."

2 Timothy 3:17  NLT