Some years ago an unemployed cleaning woman noticed a few bees buzzing around the attic of her home.
Since there were only a few, she made no effort to deal with them. Over the summer the bees continued to fly in and out of the attic vent while the woman remained unconcerned, unaware of the growing city of bees that was taking up residence just above her ceiling.
The whole attic became a hive, and the ceiling of the second-floor bedroom finally caved in under the weight of hundreds of pounds of honey and thousands of angry bees. While the woman escaped serious injury, she was unable to repair the damage of her accumulated neglect.
That is a parable that is lived out in many people’s lives. We let things go. We put off dealing with things. We ignore that which is disturbing, yet inconvenient until it is too late. And our ceiling comes crashing in.
Neglect. What a powerful word. It describes many family relationships.
Neglect. Spouses neglected. Children neglected. Later, older parents neglected. Responsibilities neglected. Opportunities neglected. It is a specter that haunts all of life.
Neglect. Have YOU ever seen a neighborhood that’s neglected? How about a home? A garden? What neglect is there in YOUR life?
Thanks to King Duncan for these thoughts.
WHEN YOU SEE GOD IN SMALL THINGS, YOU’LL SEE GOD IN ALL THINGS!
