John R. Hoffman is a Professor of Biology, public speaker and a scientist examining the recovery of the nervous system after injury. Since 2006 he has written several unpublished manuscripts and he is currently working on the first Nathaniel Smythe novel and short story collection. He spends his spare time with his family and running.
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 The delicate balance of nature had tipped too far, to a point from which it seemed impossible to recover. The subtlety between accepting the busy activity of productive insects and exterminating annoying pests was missed.
Where once thousands had flown, a single bee worked tirelessly. Quickly flitting from flower to flower, collecting nectar and spreading pollen in a futile effort to make a difference.
The collapse of the hive had occurred quickly and without warning. Acres of farmland would soon be barren. The bountiful harvests of the past would soon be viewed in legendary proportions, never to be repeated again.
(Photo credit: “Female digger bee (Anthophora sp.) collecting nectar from Asphodelus ramosus. Taken at Canada Park, Judean Foothills, Israel, February 9, 2012.” Selected as the Picture of the Day, Wikimedia Commons on August 24, 2012)
 The foul stench was overwhelming. Flies swarmed in the tepid currents of putrid air as maggots burrowed through the garbage baking under the hot August sun. Dogs that had torn into the pile voraciously, now whimpered and scampered away after catching a whiff as the strike continued.
The seedling flourished in the darkness. Growing unobserved as it absorbed from nutrients from the rotting fruit. It finally burst through the moist husk of the decaying skin, finally extending the twisted stem from the confined corpse. In spite of it’s deplorable conditions, the seedling was destined for greatness and a fruitful life.
(Photo credit: “Baby bell pepper, Capsicum annuum which was found inside an adult pepper.” Selected as the Picture of the Day, Wikimedia Commons on August 23, 2012)
 She was never satisfied. Not understanding the hunger pains that plagued her, she greedily devoured everything in her path as she became engorged with food. Eating continuously through the entire day, she grew larger and larger with each and every meal. No matter how much she ate, the feelings of starvation were always present. She survived by crawling through life in the obscure shadows. Feeling ugly and insecure, she hid in the dark seclusion of a protective cocoon. When she finally emerged, confident and proud, the inner beauty that had always been there showed through for all the world to see.
(Photo credit: “The Gaika Blue or Tiny Grass Blue (Zizula hylax) is a species of blue butterfly. Taken at Kadavoor, Kerala, India.” Selected as the Picture of the Day, Wikimedia Commons on August 22, 2012)
The pews were packed for a Sunday afternoon. Despite the brisk autumn air outside, the church resembled an elaborate garden. The pulpit was barely visible under the overflowing mass of flowers in full bloom. The aisles were lined with satin ribbons and lace bows. The service continued well past the normally scheduled time.
They needed a miracle. Heads bowed down in prayer. In silent unison all thoughts focused on the Hail Mary. All eyes focused on the tiny screens held partially hidden on their laps. The home team was down by five, Fourth and forever, with only seconds to go.
(Photo credit: “Interior of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Roanoke, Virginia, USA.” Used under the Creative Commons Share-Alike License (CC-BY-SA 3.0), Image by Joe Ravi, 2011. Selected as the Picture of the Day, Wikimedia Commons on August 21, 2012)
 The ground trembled as the sky darkened. A shrill hiss roared across the landscape. Clouds of grey smoke streamed out of the ground like a teakettle about to boil over. The pale blue glacier emerging from the snow-covered peak took on a pinkish hue as torrents of water sweated from the surface. The mountain was obliterated in an instant as molten rock and ash rained down.
On the plateau below a solitary Vicuña raised his head as partially chewed grass fell from his mouth. He could barely see the herd disappearing in the distance. Perhaps it was time for takeout.
(Photo credit: “Vicuña, one of two wild South American camelids. In the background the point on the Earth’s surface that is farthest from the Earth’s center, Chimborazo volcano – Ecuador.” Selected as the Picture of the Day, Wikimedia Commons on August 20, 2012; Photo by David Torres Costales (@DavoTC) and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.)
 The woven design of palm leaves of the khumrah was a simple repeat that mimicked the iridescent blue-green shapes that emerged in a symmetrical pattern from the peacock emblazoned in the tiles embedded in the dome of the mosque. The imam closed his eyes and meditated. No matter how complex the intricacies that came with the hectic pace of daily activities in the modern world, he never missed the opportunity to reflect on the simple basis of life. A man that neglects the foundation upon which his house is built will soon find his home a disheveled heap of rubbish.
(Photo credit: “Interior wall and ceiling of the Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque in Naqsh-e Jahan Square, Isfahan.” Selected as the Picture of the Day, Wikimedia Commons on August 19, 2012; Photo by Phillip Maiwald and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.)
 Perched high in the hibiscus bush bursting with flowers, she watched with feigned indifference the dazzling array of colors flying through the air. Butterflies, large and small, celebrated the warm spring breeze by dancing to the silent notes of an orchestral melody handed down through the millennia from one generation to the next. In an instant, she picked him out. He wasn’t the brightest colored or the strongest flier. His wings weren’t the most symmetrical. His aerobatic display wasn’t the most graceful and at times was downright uncoordinated, but she knew that he was the one. Love at first sight.
(Photo credit: “Plebejus pylaon nichollae copulating (female right, male left) on a leaf of Astragalus sp., Mount Hermon, Israel/Syria, June 22, 2012.” Selected as the Picture of the Day, Wikimedia Commons on August 18, 2012)
 She adjusted the smoky grey filter in the aperture. The telescope had been a gift from her grandfather. They had enjoyed many late nights exploring the stars from his back porch. In the summer they drank freshly squeezed lemonade, but in the winter they enjoyed hot chocolate with always the right number of miniature marshmallows. She heard a crash in the kitchen. Cautiously, she peeked through the open window. Her daughter, standing on tiptoes to reach the counter, was dropping ice cubes into a half-filled pitcher of iced tea. She missed her grandfather but his love of science lived on.
(Photo credit: “Transit of Venus.The image was taken with a home-made solar filter from baader solar film. The camera was placed on a very steady tripod that is operated by using a remote control. A few consecutive shots were stacked, using freeware RegiStax 6 Never look at the sun directly. You may go blind.” Selected as the Picture of the Day, Wikimedia Commons on August 17, 2012)
 His cane sank into the damp soil as he carefully moved through the vast garden. The backyard had long ago succumbed to the flowing mass of flowers grown from a handful of bulbs from their honeymoon, carefully cared for and delicately replanted over the years. He tried unsuccessfully to pull an entrenched weed, maybe he would finally get it tomorrow.
He turned and saw his wife sitting in her wheelchair, watching him through the open window. She could no longer walk along the cobblestone path. Each morning he prepared a vase of freshly cut lilies for her to enjoy inside.
(Photo credit: “Orange Daylily, possibly a garden hybrid cultivar. Ukraine.” Selected as the Picture of the Day, Wikimedia Commons on August 16, 2012)
 He tightened the straps as he staggered under the weight of the heavy backpack. When he reached the center of the bridge he climbed up on the railing. He pulled a crumpled piece of paper out of his pocket. In blood red ink was the grade for his introductory psychology final exam. He had utterly and completely failed it. There went a future in medical school. He leaned over the edge and dropped the bag filled with science textbooks into the river. He laughed as it sank silently into the depths. His new major would be in graphic design.
(Photo credit: “View in Vienna from the bridge Reichsbrücke over the River New Danube towards the footbridge Ponte Cagrana and to the hill range Vienna Woods in Austria.” Selected as the Picture of the Day, Wikimedia Commons on August 15, 2012)
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