BEAUTY IN FLUTTERS

But he knoweth the way that I take:
when he hath tried me, I shall
come forth as gold.
Job 23:10

My Mother went with our family on a trip to our national park several years ago. We did the usual tours in the car, getting out at places, looking inside and outside of old preserved home places of many years ago. One particular cabin, the Ogle Place has a nice porch area as it was then. Mother walked to the end of the porch where there was an area that was just firm semi-wet mud. I heard Mother let out a little sound of surprise. I went to see what she was looking at. There on that dark, damp earth were newly “hatched” butterflies. They were huddled together as they tend to do in the beginning days of life. They tend to stay close together and practice fluttering their new wings. I lost count of those little beauties at 20 but there were more. All were a lovely shade of light blue with all of the usual black trim. It was quite the sight, especially for my Mother who had for many years such a love for butterflies.

Brian and I just returned from our drive through Cades Cove and noticed all the places we saw “fluttering beauties” of different colors. They remind me of little active stained-glass windows. We saw the blues, yellows, golds and on and on. What a sight. I love how wonderfully our Creator shows off His handiwork.

I learned something in my youth about butterflies though. Many teachers will have a cocoon on a shelf in their classrooms for young students to observe the process of a butterfly's birth. There have been times when a well-meaning student, when seeing the activity beginning with the cocoon, wants to pick it up and take it apart in order to help the butterfly. However, what we know is that a butterfly cannot be helped with that process or it will die.

With human birth, we are used to helping with that natural process as much as we can for the comfort of the mother and safety of the baby. Even with human birth, there are things that must happen for a baby to survive. That first cry is vital as it helps to open up its lungs to begin the breathing process. Measures can be taken if that doesn't happen to help the baby survive.

However with the “baby butterfly” God has instilled in it the strength to push itself from the cocoon. Better yet, as that process is taking place, there is a chemical that is released gradually into the small, delicate wings of the butterfly. That can't happen if someone tries to help the butterfly out of the cocoon. When it emerges from the cocoon on it's own, it's wings are strengthened and with some practice in fluttering, will be able to fly. If the natural process doesn't take place, the human helper may feel he has helped when in reality, he has contributed to the death of the fledgling butterfly. It won't be able to fly. It can only lay and thus become prey to birds who will find it a tasty morsel.

I'm thinking of some folks who are really struggling. Folks may give suggestions and even extend help for one facing a difficult time. These strugglers may receive a lot of advice, lots of helpful attention, but the struggle goes on. In our culture, there appears to be answers for every kind of problem. doctors of every type, therapists, medications, counselors...many of which can be Christian in nature. Holistic methods including special diets and exercising may be recommended, but the poor individual is still struggling, and is left at the end of the day, in a state of utter frustration.

Let's face it, there are times when we face a difficulty we don't understand, we do what we can to find a solution. That is the normal thing to do. Maybe there's a doctor, medication or counselor that can help. No matter the help, our first response as Christians should be to give it first to the Lord. In the end, He is the ultimate problem solver in any of our lives no matter the solution He provides.

Sometimes, God wants us to struggle for a time that will bring into our lives a strength and growth we wouldn't know otherwise. Suffering for we Christians will always bring about spiritual benefit. We will know a new strength come into the wings of our lives that enable us to soar spiritually, bringing glory to our Father.

As beautiful as a butterfly is in it's maturity, flitting about from flower to flower, so is the beauty seen in the life of one who suffers, but allows God to bring beauty in their lives that blesses all who see His end result.

Father I pray for so many friends right now who I know are really going through some difficult things. They see no solution, but You have the answers. You are big enough to handle any difficult time we face. If You choose a time of suffering for us, may we accept it with a spirit of grace knowing You will never leave us or forsake us. In the end, You will bring forth a special beauty in our lives. In Jesus' precious name I pray...Amen