Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Karen Spears Zacharias

Home
Evangelical
Keeping the Swarm

Keeping the Swarm

Last updated on: November 17, 2012 at 9:15 am by Karen Spears Zacharias

Keeping the Swarm 2012-11-17T09:15:22+00:00 Karen Spears Zacharias

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

They say it often, and it is true, there is no miracle like that of a new birth. You have joined with us in praying for such a miracle ever since Mama learned she was dying. Thank you for your prayers uttered on our behalf.

The doctors weren’t sure Mama would make it. It’s a fast-growing cancer, they warned us. First order of business was shrinking the tumors in the brain. Then, maybe, addressing the tumor in the lungs. We didn’t know then about the blood clots in the legs. Or the cancer spots on her liver.

She wept when they told her she was dying. Cried like I have never witnessed my mother cry before, not even when Daddy died.

Please, God, she prayed. Let me see Mannie’s baby born.

You could almost see the wince in the doctor’s eyes, hope narrowed by too much loss. But he agreed with Mama when she said medicine didn’t number her days — God did. Doctors do the best they can and then they pray for miracles, too.

He did not arrive early or quickly, but all 8 pounds and 20 inches and head of dark hair of Boy Barnes is now bundled in the eager arms of Mannie and Nicole.

He is beautiful, Sister Tater proudly announced after assisting in the delivery of her very first grandchild, the way Native mothers have done for generations upon generations, whispering words of encouragement and strength into the ears of laboring women.

Keeping the Swarm is the name of the book George Venn, my former writing professor, has just released. In it, George pays tribute to his own grandmother and grandfather, George and Hazel Mayo, who raised him up during those early hard years following his father’s untimely death.

They lived at Alder in the shadow of a great white mountain. George writes: “That farmhouse – my attic room just beneath the cedar shakes – was the first place I lived; their home became a respite, a shelter from my father’s death. I lived there every summer for twenty-five years. I carry Alder within me now – a place where I could feel secure, where the anguish of tragedy could be countered.”

It was his grandfather Mayo who taught the young George the secrets of bee-keeping. Uncle Buck is a fisherman, not a bee-keeper. He sent me a text moments after Boy Barnes was born: “He wants to go fishing,” the new grandfather declared.

Mama had a difficult day, coughing up blood, and a pain in her back so intense that hourly doses of powerful narcotics did not dissuade it. Still she got dressed, sat in her chair, poured over Scriptures and prayed for Boy Barnes.

George Venn wrote a poem for his own son about the lessons of bee-keeping learned from his Grandfather Mayo.

Inviting Alex to the Bees

You want to come along?

I’m going down to hive the swarm

on the fence this afternoon

Yes, you might get stung

but I’ll show you old

Grandpa’s way among the bees.

….”.

It seems to me that the miracle of birth isn’t just about the creating of something new, but about holding fast to that which is too quickly passing — the secret ways of our mothers and our fathers and their mothers and fathers. These, after all, are our people. The swarm to which we will always belong.

There is almost always pain involved in keeping the swarm, but what else is a person to do? There is no honey without the hive, and no love thrives in a heart unwilling to be broken.

Welcome to the hive Boy Barnes. May you always find safe shelter in the arms of those who cherish you. May the golden-nectar of home be a healing balm whenever you encounter an unforgiving world. And may you never forget that you were the miracle we all prayed into being.

Don’t Miss This:

LA GRANDE, Ore. – A book launch reception to celebrate the publication of “Keeping the Swarm: New and Selected Essays” by George Venn is on Sunday, Nov. 18.The public is invited to the drop-in event from 2-4 p.m. in the Colleen Johnson Room at Cook Memorial Library.

Cook Memorial Library

Eastern Oregon University

Previous Post

November 15, 2012

Next Stops: Lake Oswego & The Dalles

Next Post

November 20, 2012 Selling Water by the River: Book Giveaway

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category child abuse Military ministry pop culture prayer Sports Uncategorized Veterans Day

Select a Month July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz