Thursday, January 26, 2023
01/30/2023
Joyce Antilla Phipps
How do you vaccinate a honeybee? Usually, we think of bees stinging people, but a group of scientists working to eliminate a bacterial infection that is killing off hives have developed a scheme to, well, for a better word, vaccinate honeybees. The infection, called American foulbrood can literally destroy entire colonies, and its spores are highly virulent and can remain virulent for decades after infection.
Bees are essential to life on earth. Without their buzzing about, pollination would cease, and so would much of our food. The vaccine is poured into the bee’s food, insulating the queen bee and protecting her worker bees and larvae from infection.
There are other major threats to the bee population, notably Roundup, a herbicide sold all over the world. It kills bees as well as weeds. Bayer now owns Roundup and it is time to tell Bayer to stop producing it. There are many organic products that do not harm or threaten bees. Those little critters are essential to life on earth.
Prayer for the Day
Transforming God, may we seek new approaches to living,
As you are our constant companion in the decisions for our lives;
Spirit of Life, open us to new ways of thinking about our world
Which often seems so confusing and troubling.
Bring us from our past into a future open with possibilities
So we may find delight in being your disciples.
We ask this in the name of the One who calls us into discipleship,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
If the bee disappeared off the face of the earth, man would only have four years left to live.”
- Maurice Maeterlinck, from The Life of the Bee
Where there are bees there are flowers, and wherever there are flowers there is new life and hope.”
- Christy Lefteri, from The Beekeeper of Aleppo
My child, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet.
Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, you will find a future,
And your hope will not be cut off.
Proverbs 24: 13-14
