The Living Book
The Tale of Benny Bee - Chapter 1
The Tale of Benny Bee is a five-chapter short story that I originally wrote as a summer camp chapel curriculum to introduce kids to five spiritual concepts found in the book of Ephesians: Belong, Believe, Become, Behave, and Begin (Five B’s). The kids (and adults) loved it and found it helpful. I hope you do too!
BEEP, BEEP! “Watch out Benny! Coming through!” Bill the foreman shouted as he whizzed past on his three-wheeled honey truck.
It was the first day of summer and the hive in the old oak tree was buzzing with activity. Hundreds of worker bees rushing, here and there.
Benny jumped from the main path and stood against the wall. He watched as more teams of worker bees streamed out of the hole in the tree and into the place they called “the outside.” Out there was a land of adventure. It was where the great light shines warmly, causing things to grow like the colorful flowers and sweet blooms that their hive relies upon to survive. Benny had never been out there, though. He only knew of it from what he was told.
You see, while Benny had wings like the other honey bees, his were small and weak and he could not fly, not even for a second. He was stuck in the hive, day and night, while all his friends were able to come and go as they pleased.
Benny sighed and stared, squinting at the opening, trying to catch a glimpse of what it was really like outside of the hive.
CRASH!! Benny went flying, head over heels and landed in a heap by a large wooden nectar bucket. “Hey, Bennnnny! Whatcha doin’?” said Bug.
“Ouch! Bug, why did you run into me like that?” groaned Benny.
“Sorrrrrry Benny, I was trying to land beside you. I think I had pollen in my eye and... I guess I missed.”
“That’s ok.” Benny said brushing himself off and making his way over to where Bug was. Bug was a good friend, but he wasn’t the most coordinated bee in the hive.
“Wanna go with me to check out the apple orchard?” Bug asked. “It’s so awesome there! The blooms are... Awwww, I’m sorry Ben. Want to go to the game room instead? We can play Weevil Ball?”
“Nah... I don’t feel like playing today,” Benny said.
“Aww, come on. It’s summer! Everyday is a day to have fun! Right?” asked Bug.
“Hey guys!” Belle said, as she circled around their heads.
“Hi Belle!” said Bug.
“Hey,” said Benny, barely looking up.
“Why the long face, Ben?” Belle asked as she landed gracefully in front of him.
“I dunno. I guess I just wish I could be like everyone else. Some days it feels like I just don’t belong here.”
“Now, listen to me mister Benjamin Bartholomew Bee...!” Belle said loudly. “You sure do belong here, just like the rest of us!”
“Hey, hey, what’s all the yelling about?” asked Bill the foreman as he pulled his truck alongside.
“Benny, you ok? You look upset,” asked Bill.
“I’m... I’m ok,” said Benny.
“No, he’s not,” said Bug. “He’s sad because he can't fly.”
“And he doesn’t feel like he belongs here,” added Belle
“Well, I can tell you that that’s absolutely not true,” said Bill. “And I can prove it!”
“You can?” said Benny, his eyes lighting up. “How?”
“I tell you what. You three meet me in the Library after dinner. I’ll explain it then,” said Bill. “Just believe me when I say, you do belong here. Well, I gotta go, lots of work to be done. Remember. The library after dinner. And don’t be late.”
[Later, at the library]
Bug stood looking up in awe at the wall of books before him. “There must be thousands of them. How could anyone ever read all these?” he wondered.
“Look at this one!” said Belle pointing to a large book in the center of the room.
“Wow!” said Benny. “It’s huge!
“It must be pretty important to be on fancy stand like that one!” said Bug.
“Hi kids! I see you found The Living Book,” said Bill as he walked through the library doors.
“The Living Book? You mean it’s alive! AAAAAGGGHHH!” shouted Belle as she jumped back in fright.
“No, no. It’s not like that,” Bill said, trying to assure Belle that she was safe. “This book is the reason that I asked you to meet me here.”
“To prove that I belong?” asked Benny.
“Exactly!” said Bill.
“So what is this book anyway? It looks old,” asked Belle.
“Is it magical?” said Bug. “I like magical things.”
Well, not exactly Bug,” Bill explained. “And yes, Belle, it is very old. It was given to us by our ancestors. Some have called it the Great Book of Answers, because it contains all of the answers to the most important questions.”
“I could have used that during math class.” said Bug.
“What does it have to say about me? asked Benny, anxiously.
Bill opened the book, careful not to bend its large fragile pages. The others gathered in close to see. Each page was filled top to bottom with fancy writing. Bill kept turning until he got to a place toward the back of the book.
“Ah, yes, this is the spot,” Bill announced, pressing his finger on the page.
“What does it say? Is my name in there?” asked Benny.
Bill paused and then read slowly from The Living Book. “From age to age it shall be known, to all who are my very own. A sign confirms who you are, under your wing, marked with a star.”
“Wait, what does that mean?” asked Belle. “Is it a riddle?”
“I liiike riddles!” said Bug.
“No, it’s not a riddle,” said Bill. “It’s the answer that Benny is looking for.”
“It is?” Benny asked. “I don’t understand.”
Bill motioned to Bug. “Come here and turn around. Now lift your left wing.”
“You’re not going to tickle me are you?” Bug asked, already starting to giggle.
“No, I just want to look for something. Yep, there it is just as I thought.”
Belle pushed in closer. “Can I see?”
“What do you see, Bill?” Benny asked.
“Take a look for yourself. Right there.”
“Is that a star?” asked Belle.
“It looks like one,” said Benny.
“Yes, it is a star,” said Bill. “It’s the mark of the hive. Just like The Living Book said.”
“What? I have a star on me? Cooool!” Bug said, smiling.
“How about me?” Belle asked, craning her neck to see if she could see under her own wing.
“Yes, Belle, it’s right there,” said Bill.
“Woohoo!” she shouted.
“Benny,” asked Bill. “Are you alright?” Benny had started to walk away, hanging his head low.
“Don’t you want to look for your star?” asked Belle.
“Nah, it’s ok,” said Benny.
“Now hold on,” said Bill. “This is what you were looking for, right Benny?”
“I’m... I’m afraid,” Benny answered.
“Afraid of a little star?” said Bug.
Belle elbowed Bug. “Hush!”
Bill walked over to Benny and placed his hand gently on his shoulder. Looking into his eyes he said, “Benny, listen to me. You have nothing to be afraid of.”
“But what if I don’t have a star?” Benny said, almost crying.
“Benny, there’s not a chance of that. I need you to trust me on this one. Can you do that? And even if you didn’t have a star - and that’s not the case - I wouldn’t care for you any less.”
“Us either!” shouted Bug and Belle in unison.
“Come on Benny, let’s take a look,” Bill said gently.
“So you’ll still like me if I don’t?” said Benny.
“Yes, absolutely!” they said.
Benny turned around and slowly began to raise his small left wing. The others pressed in close.
“There it is,” whispered Bug.
“It’s beautiful,” said Belle.
“Benny... I’ve got good news,” Bill said. “You have the mark of the star! You belong right here in this hive!”
Benny started to smile and his eyes brightened. He turned around and wrapped his arms tightly around Bill giving him a big hug. Belle and Bug joined in, squeezing Benny in the middle like a Honey Bee sandwich. They all started laughing.
“You guys are great!” said Benny. “But, can you let go, I’m getting squished in here.”
Ephesians 1:11-14 (MSG) It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.
It’s in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet [or mark] from God is the first installment on what’s coming, a reminder that we’ll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life.