Small patch of wild daisies
still blooming in late September
amidst straggly weeds
beside walkway behind retreat center,
I pause to focus on their beauty
examine fragile white petals
appreciate their hardiness
in the chill of autumn.
Calmly notice a bumblebee
settled on one, quietly sipping
I recall that as a girl
it would have frightened me away!
But today I can linger
try not to disturb it
content to stay, the bee and I
for a brief moment.
Fall’s cool air surrounds us
thoughts of leaving the retreat
returning to work
swirl and distract me.
The phrase “busy as a bee”
comes to mind so I pause
look again, does
it seem hurried?
no, its movements are steady, deliberate.
The retreat had questioned
how do you see
your work?
maybe as a burden, or a calling
but can you see
it as a gift?
I wonder, a bit inanely
how does that
bee see its work?
what it does is pure instinct
just doing what needs to be done.
How much of life
is spent that way?
just maintaining, surviving,
without much thought
or pause for reflection.
But today I’m taking a pause
today I’m watching a bee
like a child, in the moment
feeling blessed by this tiny gift…
and grateful for the gift of work.
Jodi Phillips, Deacon Omar Gutierrez, and Jim Jansen.
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