Buzz Off.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. “ -Ephesians 6:10-17

This time of year always brings some “flying friends” around my house. No, it’s not the chirping birds who occasionally build a nest in our crepe myrtle trees or on the ledge of the columns on our porch. It’s these feisty, bossy, territorial things called…..CARPENTER BEES.

Several years ago, I was talking to a friend and her husband about cutting the grass in the backyard. A wooden fence encompasses our backyard for privacy and to keep our dog, Deuce, safe and sound. This fence is also a burrowing ground for carpenter bees. As I started to move into the backyard, these bees would dive bomb at my head. Even when I was far away from the fence, they continued to bully me. (Yes, the drama is real.) If there had been cameras installed in the backyard at that time, they’d have seen me ducking, swatting, shrieking, pushing the lawnmower off on its own (as a decoy?) and hauling tail out of the backyard. Ridiculous. I JUST WANTED TO CUT THE GRASS! My friend’s husband gave me some advice: “Don’t worry about them – they’re just carpenter bees. Look at its face. If it’s yellow, it won’t sting you!” While I appreciated the advice, I knew good and well I didn’t want those things close enough to my eyeballs to see what color their faces were! The yard could wait…..I was fleeing to “safety:”

This spring, I’ve made a a decision that I will not allow a one-inch insect to have so much control over me. I’ve mowed several times and I just walk patiently, keeping my head up, keeping my hands on the mower and finishing what I’ve started. Those bees are still swarming. They still dive bomb at my head. They still go get their friends and try to double team me. I still have those moments of fear that I’m about to get stung by one of them, but I press on.

You see – I didn’t do ANYTHING to aggravate them. I didn’t hit the fence, I didn’t bring out any bug spray, and I didn’t bother them at all. Thinking back on my friend’s advice, I researched a little bit about carpenter bees. I learned that the females are the only ones with stingers but they rarely sting unless their nest (probably inside the posts of our wood fence) is threatened. In reference to the male carpenter bees, however, the Terminix website states “This ‘stingless aggression’ is little more than a scare tactic, but should serve as a warning that you’re getting too close for their comfort.” Wait a minute. You’re in MY backyard burrowing in MY fence and warning me that I’M too close for comfort? All I did…..was try to mow the grass.

Spiritually, it’s easy to feel the same way. I didn’t do anything to “stir up the enemy.” All I did…..was give my heart to Jesus. And in that moment, I became a target of dive bombs at my head (mind), my heart (spirit) and body (soul). Sometimes, it’s a “one bee” attack. Other times, it’s a full team assault. Just because……being a follower of Christ encroaches on the enemy’s territory and he knows no other way but to threaten and bombard us to weaken our impact and make us want to quit. To question. To pull back.

Ephesians 6 gives us so much to equip us. We are told how to dress. We are told that to PUT ON (Belt of Truth, Breastplate of Righteousness, Gospel Shoes of Peace) a few articles that, by nature, serve their purposes just by wearing them. In addition, though, we are told to TAKE UP some additional things (Shield of Faith, Helmet of Salvation, Sword of the Spirit) that are intended to be used when the enemy sends his fiery darts our way. Just like when the Carpenter Bee five bombs my head. Will I be ready? Or will I run?

Keep your hands on “the mower,” my friends. Keep pushing on and don’t lose sight of what He has called you to be and do.

To all of the carpenter bees in the backyard and the enemy who is equally unwelcome…..BUZZ OFF.