While riding in the car few weeks ago I said to my husband, “Did you know that Bumblebees can’t fly? Well, technically they can. But they shouldn’t be able to. They defy the laws of aerodynamics.” Then, just yesterday in church, our pastor said the same thing, “If you read in science books about the Bumblebee, you find that they can’t fly. Their big bodies and tiny wings defy the laws of aerodynamics. But Bumblebees can’t read!”
So, I decided to do a little research on this phenomenon.
What is the law of aerodynamics? In short: There are three basic forces to be considered in aerodynamics: thrust, which moves an airplane forward; drag, which holds it back; and lift, which keeps it airborne.
From: livescience.com; Explained: The Physics-Defying Flight of the Bumblebee; By Joseph Calamia
“Short and stubby, the bumblebee doesn’t look very flight-worthy. Indeed, in the 1930s, French entomologist August Magnan even noted that the insect’s flight is actually impossible, a notion that has stuck in popular consciousness since then.”
“The fluid dynamics behind bumblebees’ flight are different from those that allow a plane to fly. An airplane’s wing forces air down, which in turn pushes the wing (and the plane it’s attached to) upward. For bugs, it isn’t so simple. The wing sweeping is a bit like a partial spin of a “somewhat crappy” helicopter propeller, (according to professor of biology, Michael Dickinson), but the angle to the wing also creates vortices in the air like small hurricanes. The eyes of those mini-hurricanes have lower pressure than the surrounding air, so, keeping those eddies of air above its wings helps the bee stay aloft.”
So, basically, the bee creates a hurricane by pushing his wings back and forth rather than applying the law of lift by flapping up and down. This hurricane aides the bee in his travels from flower to flower.
The Bumblebee overcame the flying obstacle because he doesn’t know he is not supposed to fly.
This reminded me of a song I used to hear as a child by Frank Sinatra called High Hopes.
It goes like this:
Next time you’re found, with your chin on the ground, there a lot to be learned, so look around. Just what makes that little old ant, think he’ll move that rubber tree plant, anyone knows an ant, can’t, move a rubber tree plant. But he’s got high hopes, he’s got high hopes. He’s got high apple pie, in the sky hopes! So any time you’re gettin’ low ‘stead of lettin’ go Just remember that ant! Oops there goes another rubber tree plant.
When troubles call, and your back’s to the wall. There a lot to be learned, that wall could fall. Once there was a silly old ram, thought he’d punch a hole in a dam. No one could make that ram, scram! He kept buttin’ that dam. ’cause he had high hopes, he had high hopes. He had high apple pie, in the sky hopes! So any time you’re feelin’ bad ‘stead of feelin’ sad, just remember that ram. Oops there goes a billion kilowatt dam.
All problems just a toy balloon. They’ll be bursted soon. They’re just bound to go pop. Oops there goes another problem kerplop! KERPLOP!
In our own lives are problems, little mini hurricanes if you will, telling us we can’t. It’s impossible. But those problems don’t have to keep you grounded! Your attitude about your situation will serve to either keep you down or lift you up. Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t–you’re right.”
Let’s take a look at the following verses of scripture:
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17
“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23 NKJV
“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7 KJV
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45 NKJV
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.” Proverbs 18:21 AMP
Let’s connect the dots: What you listen to and feed your mind on is what will become your thoughts. Your thoughts will take root in your heart. What is in your heart is what will come out of your mouth. It’s inevitable. What comes out of your mouth will direct the course of your life, whether good or bad. It is vitally important to guard your heart. Take head what you watch, listen to, and read.
If all you listen to is negativity and doubt, soap operas, the news, gossip, bad advice from well-intentioned friends, then that is what your thoughts will be. And that is what will take root in your heart. And that is what will come out of your mouth. And that is what your life will become!
But if you feed on positivity and faith, Word-filled sermons, the Good News, wisdom from fellow believers, then your faith will grow strong and will carry you in times of trouble.
Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation.”
I’ve heard whole sermons from Debbie-downers preached on this- In the world you will have tribulation. But they often fail to read the rest of that passage of scripture!
“But be of good cheer, I have overcome the world!” John 16:33 NKJV
WOW! Now that’s some Good News!
So, every time a thought comes into your head that you don’t want taking root in your heart take that thought captive to the obedience of Christ! (2 Corinthians 10:5) Remember that little Bumblebee that should not be able to fly! He doesn’t look at his chubby round body and teeny-weeny wings and decide it’s impossible. Nope, he doesn’t even know the word impossible. He literally creates a mini-hurricane and flies right into it.
Take heart for “all things are possible to him who believes.” Mark 9:23
In His Service,
Rebecca Hamilton, Founder/ Executive Director
For Every Great Battle, There is a Great Victory!!