I’ll
guess our cocoon experience seems longer than that of a butterfly, but,
proportionately, maybe it’s not.
Though
some may find caterpillars fascinating little creatures, few would say their
beauty and abilities even rival that of the butterfly. I’ll admit, I don’t have
a clue what goes on in that cocoon to cause the transformation from caterpillar
to butterfly. But, when life courses through the veins of their newfound wings,
beauty and power take on brand new meaning.
I
have no idea if the butterfly remembers life as the caterpillar, crawling on
her belly in search of food, eating as if the buffet will soon be over.
I
don’t know if the caterpillar knows that she’ll be hidden away in a cocoon,
changing phenomenally, or if she has any appreciation for the freedoms of the
butterfly. Or for that matter, if she’s ever even seen a butterfly. Perhaps her
eyes are only on the task at hand, acquiring the fuel she’s driven to take in.
Does
she know transformation awaits her?
Can
she imagine how much of a change will occur?
Is
it dark in there? Can she see at all?
Can
she move in that cocoon? (Seems quite cramped to me.)
As
she grows and develops, is she at all comfortable, or stressed beyond
recognition?
Or
– does she sleep?
Does
she question what’s happening to her?
Does
it hurt?
Does
she know she has a future, or does she await death?
When
the urge to break out overcomes her, is she afraid?
Never
having had wings before, what does she think is crowding her into the cocoon?
What
does she think has happened to her slimy (or furry) little body, the one she
wore into the cocoon?
As
her wings stretch out to their full measure, does it hurt? Does it feel good,
like stretching our arms and our back after a long night of sleep?
Is
she afraid of the foreign objects we know are her wings? Of their need to soar
through the air?
Does
she even think about what’s happening or just enjoy the newness?
The
experience of the butterflies vary, some never make it out of the cocoon.
Though
her story is one of rebirth and transformation, one that we can see with our
eyes over a very brief period of time, does she realize it?
Ours
is an ongoing story of change and rebirth, too.
What
stage are you in right now?
I
have no clue if the caterpillar, all wrapped up in it’s transformational
habitat, can complain. I rather doubt it. But, sheesh! Us humans have that
mastered!
Whether
we’re still chewing leaves, crawling along on a branch, ignorant of the plant
it’s growing from, or we’re closed off from the openness we previously enjoyed,
seemingly trapped in a closet of darkness – change is coming; freedom and
beauty and abilities await us in experiences we haven’t yet imagined.
Just
as the caterpillar may have no idea what a butterfly is, or can do, we look
around us and see other caterpillars or the dark looking cocoons they’ve
crawled into, and may not be able to imagine what we can be.
I
don’t think a caterpillar can perceive that a glorious butterfly is already in
the making.
What
is inside of you?
While
we complain about the leaf we’re chewing on, or the darkness of our cocoon, a
breathtaking butterfly is in the making!
We’ll
have such freedom – to fly further than the caterpillar knows there are places
to fly.
Go
to a butterfly house and observe; ponder what’s happening there.
When
you rest from the busyness of your day to talk with your Maker, wait on Him;
listen.
Don’t
let your insatiable hunger scare you. God is there.
Don’t
let apparent darkness overwhelm you. God is there.
When
you feel the urge to stretch and spread out your newness – use bold force! God
is right there, too! He’s waiting on you. Crawl out onto His finger and begin
to explore and enjoy your freedoms and all you discover you’re capable of.
Trust
Him with the preparations of today.
Trust
Him with the darkness that closes in around you.
Trust
Him with tomorrow, He’s already there.
