There is a bee in my house, a yellow jacket I think. He keeps banging himself against a window in the front bay.

Smack, buzz, smack, buzz.

I don’t want him to die needlessly. In fact, he should be set free to fulfill his pollenating purpose in the world. I sure don’t want him to find his stinging way to my daughters’ rooms. So, I open the screen in the pane next to him.

Smack, buzz, smack, buzz buzz buzz, smack.

He won’t leave. The breeze blows through the open window, cool and fresh. The bee remains, repeating the same ridiculous behavior. Behavior that will lead to certain death.

Smack, smack, buzzzzz.

He’s irritated and confused. I risk a sting and try to lead him toward the opening, wide and completely available to him. Yet he ignores my goading and climbs higher, farther from freedom.

And I think, is this how the Father feels? I fall, grumble, fall, fall, grumble grumble grumble. He opened the window, gave me access to freedom and life. He risked more than a pesky sting; he took on the sting of death.

Grumble, fall, grumble grumble.

I repeat the same ridiculous behaviors. I sin daily. I make mistakes I can avoid (I yell, lose patience then my temper, make unhealthy choices for my body, prioritize my social well-being above my spiritual self, tell the occasional white lie, shirk responsibilities, and act in ways I’d rather keep between God and me). I bang myself against the veil of selfish temptations, again and again. I complain, “What am I doing here? How can I get away from these destructive behaviors?”

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23

Instead of following the path to freedom, I remain lost. Lost in myself. That open window sits within my reach. I don’t need to earn my way through it or uncover a secret to unlock it. I simply need to move. Move toward to path to freedom. Accept God’s gift of freedom for the sake of love.

Are you lost? Are you banging your head in a repeated attempt to feel freedom? Are you knocked down, again and again, by false promises of the easy life?

Look to the open window, look to Jesus. With His arms open wide, He is ready to set you free from burden and worry. Life with Christ overflows with love and unbridled joy.

Christ set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.
Galatians 5:1

That little bee? He found his way out, to freedom, to life. I pray you do, too. If you’re a little lost like the bee, talk about it. I have found such freedom and love in Christ, I want to share it. Go ahead, ask. I promise it won’t sting!