By Lisa Allgood, Executive Presbyter
Scripture Reading: Genesis 1:1, 24-25
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth… And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. – Genesis 1:1, 24:25
First of all, this is not my photo, and the story was told to me by a dear photographer friend who runs tours and safaris in Africa. You all know Africa is one of my (many) happy places.
In the heart of the wildness that is Botswana, she caught something extraordinary. A swarm of bees – on a mission to build a new home – paused to rest. But instead of perching as usual on a shady branch, a cool wall, or a shadowed tree, they chose a living, breathing island. A rhinoceros.
Swarming bees aren’t aggressive. They’re tired, vulnerable, and fiercely protective of their queen. They often stop to rest and regroup while they search for the perfect spot to start their new colony. But neither of us had ever heard of them settling on the thick, armored back of one of Earth’s largest land mammals.
The rhino? Completely unfazed. For a few peaceful minutes, these tiny airborne creatures and this massive wild mammal shared space in perfect harmony. No panic. No aggression. Just stillness – a quiet miracle of nature. Almost as if they were comforting each other by saying, “Yes, I’m here. You’re here. We are here together. It’s all OK.”
In a world that feels so chaotic and so full of fear, moments like this remind me that balance and coexistence are possible. All it takes is a moment to pause, breathe, and tune into the rhythm of life, to feel the life energy the Earth holds. To touch Creation, and feel as if, just for a moment, Eden is still possible here on earth – the way God intended it to be.
