Skip to main content

Caterpillar to Butterfly

I have a quote sticker on my Kindle case. I actually have a couple, but the one I've been seeing the most lately is this one:

It's a great thought. We all know that the caterpillar cocoons itself and turns into a butterfly. But there's so much more to it. I used to think this was referring to just simply building its cocoon and sitting there almost completely still for several days. I didn't realize the depth of this proverb until I recently learned of how the metamorphosis process actually works.

 It all starts with an egg. The egg hatches to a larva, which grows into a caterpillar. Within just two weeks, the caterpillar sheds its skin five times, it literally outgrows five skins.This whole time, it is consuming every bit of food it can. It then finds a safe place to form its chrysalis. Once inside the cocoon, the caterpillar nearly completely liquefies. 

 So, quite literally, the caterpillar thinks the world is over. Its life is complete. And that's gotten me thinking. How many times have I felt that everything was done? I've never thought my life was complete - not yet. But, I have felt that certain challenges were almost too much. I've seen my plans for life liquefy. 
Caterpillar to cocoon

My dreams and plans were caterpillars. God knows the potential for my life, and many times those plans have had to liquefy to become the breath-taking, gorgeous butterfly that God has planned for my life. It's hard. Oh, it is so hard to live through that process. I loved my caterpillars. I watched them grow, take shape, outgrow parameters, grow more, consume more. And then, just when I think my little caterpillars are safe and ready, they liquefy. I'm devastated that my caterpillars no longer exist. 
But, I know that I just need to wait. I need to be patient. Because while those caterpillars look dead and unrecognizable to me, God is working - almost in secret. One day, those liquefied dreams will emerge. They will be grander, more breath-taking, more graceful and magnificent than I ever could have imagined. Some of my dreams and plans for my life have already undergone this change, and I have seen the butterflies they have become. Others, I'm still waiting for the cocoon to shed and the butterfly to emerge.

That is an entirely different process, and a discussion for another day. I trust God through all stages - and especially with my own hopes, dreams, and plans. God knows their full potential. It's okay to feel the pain as the transition happens. Just know that sometimes, a massive change must happen before the butterfly your plan or dream is meant to be can emerge.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

In This World... Not of it.

What does that phrase mean? I've heard a lot of interpretations. One is that we, as Christians, should shy away from any and all influences of this world. We should not listen to any non-Christian music, we should not watch TV shows that do not have a "redeeming" purpose, and so on. While this is a worthy idea, it's not exactly sustainable. It also does not give us the ability to be "in this world" and instead creates a wall between Christians and "the world." This divides us from all others. If we are divided, separated, from the rest of the world, how can we possibly serve it? I've recently come to believe that "in the world, not of it" has a much deeper meaning than simply avoiding the sinful influences of the world. The world, especially now, will have us believe that we are in constant danger. There is a continual bombardment of messages telling us how bad the world is now. We are told that Muslims are the enemy. Immigrants are...
2 comments
Read more

Experiences

I was talking to someone recently who voted opposite of me. She gave me her reasoning. Then told me "I've had enough experience to know." I was so stunned, I didn't know what to say. I felt like I'd been told that my own experiences weren't enough to understand "grown up" politics. She's only 3 years older than me! She also has no idea of what I've experienced.  Everyone's experiences in life shape who they are and how they see the world. Here are some of mine. I've sat with a teenaged mother as her not-even-a-week-old baby lay dying in his hospital bed. I've comforted a Buddhist woman whose Christian husband was in ICU. I've sat with a Hindu mother as she tried desperately to understand God's role in her baby's diagnosis with special needs. I've read Psalms with a Jewish man who was, rightfully, angry. I've moved 5 times in 5 years - 3 of those times was in one year. I've walked the beginning stag...
2 comments
Read more

Thoughts and looking forward

It's been a bit since I've posted. Last week, I was away from the youth group for Princeton Seminary's Institute of Youth Ministry's annual forum. I got to hear from some amazing, brilliant people who really have a heart and understanding for youth ministry. I'm still processing it all! That will be another post, though. The week before, the youth had a jam-packed Wonderful Wednesday. It was our turn for clean-up after the meal. I didn't realize it would take quite as long as it did. That's one of my shortcomings - judging the amount of time it will take to do anything. I'd be chronically late to new places if it weren't for GPS telling me exactly how long it will take me to drive! I digress. We cleaned every pot, pan, knife, and spoon in the kitchen, as well as the tables and anything else we could get our hands on! I say we ... Really, the youth did most of the work.  Photo source: Cliparts After all of that cleaning, we played with the ...
Post a Comment
Read more