Results Not Guaranteed

My wife and I have a Mini Goldendoodle named Bristol. Her Golden Retriever traits make her eager to please. In fact, I'm convinced her goal in life is to make us happy. The Poodle part of her DNA makes her wicked smart, including her astonishing emotional intelligence. If there are 5 people on the couch and one of them feels particularly sad or lonely, Bristol can sense it. Before you know it, she will cuddle up next to that person all warm and cozy. She will look up with her big brown eyes as if to say: "It's all going to be ok." Trust me, I know! I've been that one person.

Dogs like Bristol are good for the soul. They bring so much joy and delight to a home. Because the more you love them, the more love they give in return. Bees, on the other hand, don't always work that way. In fact, this has been a particularly difficult year in my relationship with my bees. Despite giving them diligent love and care on a consistent basis, I still have hives that are struggling to survive.

Now granted, the weather has not been friendly to the bees. The early spring drought made it difficult for them to find resources. A late spring freeze snapped every bloom on every fruit tree in our neighborhood. And once the rain came in early summer, so did repeated 100 degree days. All of these extreme conditions have been hard on the bees. At this time last year, I was removing a record harvest of honey. But this year the bees are doing everything they can to store enough for themselves to keep the new developing bees healthy and nourished.

Going into the spring, I could not have been more excited. All six of my hives made it through the winter. Which is no small accomplishment, since last year beekeepers experienced record losses in the neighborhood of 6o% mortality. So as you might expect, I was thrilled to see 100% of my hives survive. Not only that, these hives were strong enough for me to split into new hives, taking frames from a parent hive and using them to start a new one. I ordered new queen bees from a reputable supplier to optimize the genetics of my colonies. These were bees that were bred for a docile temperament, maximal honey production and disease resistance. We were ready to go... until we didn't!

One of my 8 hives absconded while we were on our trip to Greece. Absconded is a term beekeepers use to describe the departure of a hive when we don't know why. They just left me high and dry, despite the free lodging and catered meals I provided every day. It just didn't make sense!

Not only did one hive abscond, but some of the new queens I introduced started like gang busters, laying up to 2000 eggs a day. The colonies looked healthy and productive for a number of weeks. And then suddenly, after inspecting my hives, I found multiple supersedure cells. These cells indicate the colony is raising a new queen. For some unknown reason, the previously productive queen was no longer present. There was plenty of brood, no signs of disease and a very healthy population of bees. Once again, it made no sense!

Let's just say, beekeeping can be very disheartening at times. It seems like the more I learn in my pursuit of my Master Beekeeper Certification, the less confident I feel in what I am doing. There are so many things that bees do for which I have no explanation. Despite doing everything possible to help my bees flourish, the results are never guaranteed. There are just too many things outside of my control. Unlike Bristol, my eager-to-please domesticated dog, bees are wild creatures that have a mind of their own.

But isn't this true in life as well. As parents, we do everything we can to help our kids grow and flourish. But the results are not guaranteed. Because one day our kids become young adults. And as young adults they must make their own decisions that do not always align with what we believe is best for them. Just like beekeeping, parenting is not a equation with predictable results.

And for that matter, neither is life itself. As a pastor, I often find myself in the middle of other people's tragedies, not to mention my own. Heartbreaking pain and loss that has no good explanation. Even Jesus, who lived a sinless life for the good of other people, was unjustly killed in the most cruel and heartless way.

So clearly, we can do all the right things in beekeeping, in parenting or just life in general, but the results are not guaranteed. At least not this side of heaven. Because according to what we read in the Bible, eternity is the only place where the results are guaranteed. In fact, even our worst days on earth will be exchanged for an unlimited supply of our best days in heaven.

“For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,” (2 Corinthians 4:17, NASB95)

And this verse does not minimize the suffering we experience in this world. Many people know how devestatingly difficult it can be. But God has the power to take what the enemy meant for evil and use it for good. And one day, everything wrong, will be made right.

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”” (Revelation 21:4–5, NASB95)

So hang in there my friend. I too feel the pain of this broken world. God never diminishes our painful experiences. But He does promise it won't always be this way. One day He will make all things new. And I'm hoping that includes the enjoyment of bees who lovingly respond to our tender care in the new creation. I bet they share an endless supply of the most delicious honey we've ever tasted!