Metamorphosis

I began thinking about how as Christians we talk about our problems. It is often referred to as struggles. My thinking is this, what happens in a physical struggle between two people?  First, it would seem likely that one would overpower the other.  That may be true but the “other” who may have lost the physical confrontation has not lost entirely.  He or she has gained strength to battle another day.  And maybe the next time or the time after that they will be victorious.  It is in that tension that we grow. If we are guided by God’s principles we learn to fight in an honorable way and end up being more of a peace maker than a victor.   

This was a big fancy way to introduce that I’ve been in a battle recently and I tried very hard to remember that it was not flesh and blood I was battling.  My vision was blurring at times but I tried to keep in mind the battle plan of the enemy and not engage in human to human verbal combat.  It is especially hard when the issues rise from the attic of things I thought I dealt with long ago.  I found out I dealt with most of them but there were residual things left from the past.  The enemy would have had me believe that none of it was resolved and wanted to watch me dig my own hole to bury myself in. 

A caterpillar goes into a chrysalis (aka a pupa) and in 10 to 14 days metamorphosis occurs. Miraculously, a butterfly appears.  The key word there is “occurs.”  What happens in the chrysalis?  Wings are being fully formed, antennae are formed and the chewing mouth parts are being transformed into the sucking mouthparts of the butterfly.  The butterfly must pump fluid from its abdomen through the veins into it wings, which causes the wings to expand to their full size. Then the wings must dry and the butterfly must exercise flight muscles before it can fly.

If only it were that easy to know that in 10 to 14 days I would be assured of transformation.  The Holy Spirit just reminded me that the Israelites took 40 years to make an eleven day journey. That just sort of messed up my train of thought.  It did not have to take them 40 years.  I’ve done journeys that took 40 years or more.  Could it be we learn a very important lesson from the butterfly? 

Stay focused on where you are, ie: middle of transformation, and do what you have to do. Don’t look at the “world” but know that Your Father in Heaven has a great plan for you.  One for you not to crawl on your belly any more but to fly, showing off your newfound beauty in a process only He could create for you.  

So, back my “attic” situation, Lord it’s all Yours, it’s all necessary, all things work out for good and I’m asking You to have me find joy in the process of transformation.  The fluid flowing through my veins, the tension and struggles will allow my wings to expand to full size with the eventual strength to take flight.

Dear Daddy, I will tell you again (as if you were to forget) You make me so much better than I am!