Prayer
A Metaphor for Change Spring is a metaphor for change. Some changes we eagerly await, and some we abhor. Some changes we plan, and others arrive uninvited. To all these changes, we ask the gift of Your perspective, beckoning us to expectation, hope, and rebirth.
May the sunlight and the rain be reminders that You are at work renewing the earth. As a God of renewal, You are ever at work in our lives, too. Open our eyes to the needed changes in our lives this Spring. Awaken us to new life and perspective, for we pray in Jesus’ name..
Source: Catholic Health Association of the United States
Knowledge
It’s spring! It’s spring! Many of us are excited to get outside, clean up our yards, plant flowers and kill bugs and weeds.
Ever heard of a Neonicotinoid? Sounds like a horrible medical condition, doesn’t it? Actually, you might use this in your very own home and yard. Neonicotinoids are nicotine-based ingredients in pesticides and herbicides that kill bees.
As we all know, bees are crucial to our world. They are the top pollinator of fruit and flowers. Without bees in the world, human food systems would be drastically affected. And our enjoyment of flowering trees and plants would too. What you may not know is that bees are dying in large numbers and scientist are very worried. So far in 2025, beekeepers are reporting 70% to 100% colony collapse. One of the biggest things they worry about are commercial and personal applications of neonicotinoids.
Many general pesticides you use in and around your house include a neonicotinoid. Another source of these chemicals are flowers you buy at big box stores. Most of them are treated with neonicotinoids. Please research the products you use and the flowering plants you buy. There are some resources in the action column to help.
Recent studies have revealed that these chemicals potentially affect us as well. Research continues on the neurological and reproductive effects of neonicotinoids on humans.
Speaking of spring cleanups, if you use Round-up or other weed killers containing glyphosate, they are problematic too. Glyphosate is leeching into our water systems. It is affecting our health. Some say that so much is used in commercial applications that what we use in our yard is too minimal to matter. But it does have heath effects for anyone near, so keep that in mind. Reserve these chemicals for things like poison ivy and invasives that just won’t die off with cutting or other natural weed killers.
Action
Beesponsible is an organization whose goal is to educate about the importance of bees.
Beyond Pesticides is a place to go for alternative ideas regarding insects.
NDRC has published information on neonicotinoids. It speaks to both the effect on bees as well as the effect on human health.
What would happen if all the bees died? Here is one article that talks about that.
Amazon is the largest online retailer in the world. Would you like to sign a petition asking them to stop selling these pesticides?