The Backstory of In the Company of Bees

Before my oldest daughter graduated, I wrote a collection of letters to help her navigate life as she spread her wings. I addressed various matters of the heart, mind, and soul for her to ponder. Some of the topics include: leading your loneliness, open-handed living, navigating doubts, carrying heavy things, and developing resilience.

I’m offering a paid subscription based on this collection of letters, called, In the Company of Bees. Founding members will also receive exclusive video content from time to time to accompany this creative work.

It is my sincere hope that these heartfelt letters will serve as a calm retreat from a busy, noisy, and sometimes scary world. This collection of creative writing is designed to help you and those you love grow, go, and make life-giving decisions you won’t regret.

Become a subscriber today and get ready to receive inspiration on an monthly basis. Consider gifting a subscription to someone you love too so they can join you on this journey.

Letter #2: Dear Valuable One

My husband and I are big fans of “The Chosen” series by Dallas Jenkins. Have you seen it? The show is about those who followed Jesus during his time on earth. The writers of the show take some liberties with the storyline, while remaining true to the essence of how these followers might have interacted with Jesus and one another.

In Season 2, Episodes 5 and 6, the character of Mary Magdalene relapses into her old way of thinking and behaving. When Mary finally returns to Jesus, she has trouble looking at Him. Her shame prevents her from feeling worthy in His company. Jesus tells her to look up, to look at Him. Reluctantly Mary does and Jesus assures her that He forgives her. She weeps with relief and gratitude as they embrace.

Maybe you have participated in behavior that you are not proud of. Maybe you feel unworthy of love. Maybe you feel anything but esteemed, confident, and valued.

Are you hard on yourself?

Do you need to ask God for forgiveness?

Do you need to forgive yourself?

Is your gaze often directed at the ground—ashamed of choices you have made, or things that have been done to you?

Before you were born, God wove value into your DNA. Made in His image, you were fashioned with intention, love, and destiny. As my friend Bob says, “You are a unique, unrepeatable miracle of God.”

You are loved beyond measure.

God loves you right where you are. God also loves each of us so much that He doesn’t want us to stay as we are.

What would it look like to stand tall with confidence, not arrogance, with assurance, not insecurity—convinced of your worth and value?

Slouching Shoulders

In the summer of 2000, my family was vacationing in Canada. I had just graduated from college. As we walked around the streets of Calgary, my mom mentioned that I needed to work on my posture. She wasn’t wrong. I now repeat her advice to my kids as well, much to their annoyance.

While returning to our hotel, after experiencing some of the touristy things, my sister said to me, “What about Bob? What about Bob? The guy from ‘What about Bob?!’”

Sure enough, standing on the sidewalk in front of our hotel, was Bill Murray—one of the actors in the movie, “What about Bob?”.

I’d never approached a celebrity before and this was well before you could follow them on social media. So, with my film camera in hand—slightly cowering yet determined—I asked him, “Um, do you think we could get a photo with you?”

Bill said something I’ve never forgotten…

To read the rest of this letter and support this on-going creative work, become a paid subscriber of In the Company of Bees.