“All of us, then, reflect the glory of the Lord with uncovered faces; and that same glory, coming from the Lord, who is the Spirit, transforms us into his likeness in an ever greater degree of glory.” 2 Corinthians 3:18Transformation is a process. I was reminded of this last week when I watched a touching short film entitled “The Butterfly Circus.” [i -see endnote]
The redemption focus the film is clear – almost in your face. The transformation message is a bit more cloaked and subtle; and I thought about it for days.
Caterpillars are self-centered beings…food, food, food is about all they think about or consider. They grow, shed skin, grow some more, shed another covering, and grow some more. Some grow to ten-thousand times their originating weight / size in twenty days! [ii - see endnote]
Then they hibernate – or go into their cocoon – withdrawing and “working on themselves.”
A butterfly eventually bursts forth and is very vulnerable because its new wings are not ready for flight. After everything dries and the butterfly takes to the air it becomes an important part of society. Butterflies are pollination agents. [iii - see endnote]
I am surrounded by transforming people. Some are in the caterpillar stage – me, me, me, and more me; some are hibernating away from the world “working on stuff”; some have had great revelation and are assimilating it; and others have learned, grown, and are giving back.
In what stage are you? Are you self-centered in your thinking – “if it doesn’t benefit me in some way I’m not interested,” “if it isn’t fun and light hearted I don’t want to go,” “if it stretches me to be aware of anything but pleasure and ‘oh so good’ feelings, I’m not interested”?
Are you hibernating away from the world shielding yourself from outside forces and change agents? This is fine if there is heart / mind / paradigm change happening on the inside…but sometimes I think people just hide (see paragraph above) and use the excuse that they are “thinking about things.”
Are you processing a discovery? Butterflies only hang out post-cocoon for one to three hours [iv - see endnote] and then act on what they have been given. How long have you been dwelling on your last great revelation? Months? Years? Decades?
Or, are you giving back? More importantly, who are you giving back to? Have you reciprocated towards the ones who selflessly poured into you (i.e. your leaves), stood by you while you hibernated and “worked on yourself,” listened to your revelations and ultimately helped you take off from where you were to where you ultimately need to be?
Butterflies are influenced by what leaves they eat [v - see endnote] and we are inspired, impacted and given insight by the people around us. Who are the people who helped / are helping in your transformation? AND, what have you done to thank or recompense them?
Updates:
Living – Blanche (my car) pulled through! She had to have her transmission rebuilt, and now needs an alignment, but she is running! Thank God. The same week Blanche was tenuously clinging to life my microwave died. It had been vacillating for weeks and finally went caput! Thank you to Amy Fritz who “recycled” her old microwave, post kitchen remodel to my place. Now I have one that matches my other appliances AND runs!
Condo – Still for sale.
Work – wrapping up last minute details / projects before I head out on the road for two weeks.
Travel – I leave for India at 13:30 Tuesday (20th); route through Hong Kong (yes the airport in which I have spent three nights…we are becoming fast friends), and arrive at 01:30 in Chennai – yes, that is an AM arrival!
Requests:
Condo – It needs to sell!
Living – Roof leak to be fixed.
Travel – That God will show up in big ways, that my luggage arrives with me (although I have taken precautions and packed a change of clothes in my carry on – hard lesson learned last year), and that unity amongst all team members (traveling and host country) will be present.
Finances – I am raising funds for my trip to India. If you would like to donate, please send a check to Annie Gaudette, 3777 Fujiyama Way, Redding, CA 96001 – include a note in the envelope stating the funds are for me. Thanks in advance for your generosity!
Websites - If you would like to RSS my update vs. getting them by email visit my blog site http://www.denaandrews.blogstpot.com/. To find out more about rēp visit http://www.repurposing.biz/ for information.
[i] http://www.thedoorpost.com/hope/The%20Butterfly%20Circus/
[ii] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caterpillar
[iii] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterfly#Habits
[iv] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterfly
[v] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterfly
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