2 min read
Transformation
One of my favorite insects in the garden is the monarch butterfly. Each Spring it sleepily emerges from its cocoon unveiling the rich colors of its magnificent wings.
Like no other creature, the monarch travels 3,000 miles to find food and procreate. If you are lucky, you might catch a glimpse of this regal specimen landing on your head or lazily basking in the sun.
It’s hard to imagine this beautiful butterfly used to be a pudgy creature plodding along through the backyard foliage munching on milkweeds. As a miracle of nature, the monarch’s unique transformation from an ordinary caterpillar to the majestic winged beauty of the garden, reminds me of the transformation that occurs when we invite Christ into our lives.
Many of us spend the whole of our lives inching along from place to place not really knowing ourselves or where we are going. We are contented to munch on the comforts of this earthly life, yet at the same time feel a deep longing for something more.
When we accept God into our lives, something within us stirs, and metamorphosis begins.
First, we must enter a stage like that of the chrysalis. This stage, a cocoon-like state, turns us inward to develop the heart of our souls into the likeness of Christ. In so doing, our hearts must be awakened and stirred to the call of our Creator.
The awakening directs us to the center of our soul and in that center, God patiently waits for us to discover that we are worthy to love and be loved.
He tells us that through Him all things are possible if we believe.
He knows our hearts and knows our heartaches.
He knows our faults and weaknesses and loves us in spite of them.
During our lives, He watches and hopes we will come to Him, knowing what would unfold if we received Him personally.
When we heed the call, we emerge like the monarch from the dark cocoon into the light.
In this light we are free to fly in the majesty of God’s divine kingdom and watch, in amazement our wings unfurl to greet the endless possibilities that manifest through Him.
Our lives on earth, as fleeting as the Monarch’s, are equally delicate.
We are called not to get comfortable plodding along consuming the vegetation of earthly things.
Instead, we are called to seek out the beauty of God’s divine plan and realize we can become a part of that plan. We, like the monarch, may show others the magnificence of God’s Creation!
