Sitting on an old school bus sit out under the garage at the
in-laws, I was moved by the aerial activity of flying wasps. No, the wasps were not my problem. It was the husband of my niece and my
father-in-law who were trying to kill the flying creatures of pain and
death. With each swat of the broom or
the swing of a swatter, the intensity of the angered wasps made me feel
uncomfortable.
Wasp stings are not my favorite pass time at the in-laws
although I have received some stinging remarks from the in-laws and their
extended family over the last forty plus at these family Fourth of July family
reunions and picnic outings. I have had numerous stings from bees, fleas, horse
flies, sheep flies, yellow jackets, and red wasps. I worried that someone who is allergic might
have been stung. I read and I heard that
bee stings are good for arthritis. I do
not have allergic reactions, but I do have arthritis.
Just the other day I was weed eating a fence row when I
thought I was having a severe attack of gout or sharp pain of arthritis in my
right ankle. My thoughts were, “What I
have been eating to have the gout?” I thought maybe I lucked out and it would
be just pain from a wrong step on the unlevel ground. After two or three sharp pains, I decided to
take a look at my ankle. Is that a man
thing ignoring pain?
I raised my pants leg and discovered a yellow jacket buried
deep into my ankle. To my surprise, I
was in a yellow jacket nest and received only one dose of arthritic medicine. Looking back, I have mixed emotions. I am glad I had the pain of just one sting,
or sad for just a small dose of painkiller?
The ankle did feel better after the swelling subsided.
A week or two before the yellow jacket arthritic treatment,
I was attacked by a red wasp. He flew
into my sleeveless shirt and stung my chest in that tender spot between the
armpit and the, well you know, the chest.
By the way, I do not have arthritis there.
Getting back to the interruption of my leisure moment and my
time of meditation in preparation of spending the Fourth of July with the
in-laws, I sat entertained, but concerned, at the mishaps of trying to hit
flying wasps.
Moments before the aerial display, my nephew-in-law had
spayed a single nest with two wasps with insect killer. He knocked down the nest and secured our
safety by crushing the two dead wasps with his foot.
After quick survey of the ceiling of the garage, the home
base of the Kamikaze wasps was located.
As with the concealment of any enemy station, the wasps had planted a
nest in the electrical discharge insect control system. Your know, a “Bug Zapper.” The device attracts and kills flying insects
that are attracted by light. A light
source attracts the insects where they are electrocuted by touching two wires
with a high voltage between them. The
name “zapper” come the zap sound produced when an insect is electrocuted.
Research shows that the process of electrocution spreads a
mist containing insect parts up to seven feet.
Bacteria and viruses that can be inhaled by contaminated air around the
bug zapper, or settle on the food of people eating near the device. Another drawback is the traps are not
effective at killing biting insects.
Many harmless and beneficial insects are electrocuted. Wikipedia says, “A study over a summer found
that 13,789 insects were killed, of which 31 were biting insects.” It makes me wonder if the red wasps took
advantage of the design flaw and build their nest at night during the time
harmless and beneficial bugs were zapped.
I think it may have been because there was no power to the
bug zapper. No electricity, no
electrocution. No power because the
power source was broken.
I know by now you are wondering where is the spiritual
connection.
Another parable put he
forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which
sowed good seed in his field: But while
men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought
forth fruit, then appeared the tares also (Matthew 13:24 -26 KJV).
Lord, have mercy on my
son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire,
and oft into the water. And I brought
him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and
perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you?
bring him hither to me. And Jesus
rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from
that very hour. Then came the disciples
to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto
them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as
a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to
yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto
you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but
by prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:15 -21 KJV).
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