The Moth and the flame

Before the title gives you any ideas, let me tell you that I am going to be quite literal when I refer to a moth or the flame.. :P

So, I was looking out of the window last evening, taking in the fresh air, the cool breeze..when above the noisy din of the traffic, I heard the cacophony of a bee buzzing near the tube-light.

This is one of the things that everyone knows about Lepidoptera (ok.. its just the scientific name of moths..butterflies..and many other insects that fly! ) .. Though no one can give “the reason” for it.. Its almost like a drug for them..

Being an entomologist at heart, I brought my attention to the tiny thing flying around.. probably trying to find the brightest spot.. It would sit, groom itself, fly..sit..groom…And I couldn’t help but smile.. It was beautiful.. I was able to observe close details like the shape of its eyes, the tiny tufts of hair on its antennae, the shape of its legs, its breathing patterns .. it was cute.. : ) It makes me wonder in awe about the bounty of life and diversity in all of God’s creations.

However, I noticed that the tube-light was extremely dusty.. there was no place where the bee could sit without picking up a lot of dust balls.. this was interesting and new to me.. I wanted to see what the bee does when there is a lot of dust between it and its object of desire! : ) Having done a project on the behavior of wasps, I know for a fact that they hate dust or anything extra on their flimsy, weightless bodies..

Anyway, to my surprise, it continued to sit around the dusty bulb, gathering a lot of grime and kept struggling to shake it off.. I tried to wonder what it meant for the bee to go through this shit just to sit on a bulb.. if u don’t like the dirt, just fly away somewhere clean.. but no.. is it because the light represents some sort of a salvation..? And what makes you think that way? Because I am an average smart human being..and I know that the tube-light is not what it promises you. It was made by one of us to serve our purpose and comfort. It is not going to help you in any way..
Seriously.. it is not worth going through the irritation and dirt.. because I can see the bigger picture..


But hey.. nature is strange and complete and understanding in a way I may never fully understand. Even though a lot a things about nature seem so simple and pointless they are very comforting.. the perceived imperfection in the bee, is probably just the reflection of the imperfection in my own mind..


After all, aren’t we a lot more complicated and stupid.. how many people are drawn to a lot of vices.. like a moth to the flame.. until they see the bigger picture..


I am lucky to have opened my eyes to a lot of them… and to have people to tell me that the light I am walking towards is just a fake shiny bulb and not the real thing..
It saddens me to see a lot of people doing things that are against the moral ethics.. but no.. I am not going to try play God and push the bee away from the dusty tube-light.. Neither will it understand my intentions, nor will my actions result in success without squishing it or forcing it out of the window..



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It is now 12 30 am and I check on it.. it is still there…on the light..but dirty..and probably tired.. : )


I guess all I can do is wait for the day when everything is bright and clear…and the warmth of the sun overpowers the “tube-light” and the bee can fly away to achieve its real destiny..



You truly are amazing.. : )