Larva & Pupa Progress?

We are all a chip off the block of the Creator, a beam of that light, and a wave of that ocean, and yet when it comes to formulating words that describe the infinite creator, we struggle mightily. The very best that we can do is to employ metaphors, and some are pretty good. So, let’s look at the caterpillar- butterfly metaphor as it relates to our human and spiritual journey.

Once upon a time in a denomination that kick-started my religious journey, I was content to be a caterpillar. I was enjoying eating the “leafs of the Word”. I would spend all my time on those “green shoots” of the Bible. I was getting fatter and fuller of myself as the months went by. I was mostly comfortable: smart and sassy.

When I would encounter a “non caterpillar”, I became real sassy (proud).

Thankfully, things began to happen: things beyond my control. My spiritual body began to change and all of a sudden I found myself no longer in the body (can you say church?) that had fed me for so long. I wasn’t sure where I was; however, I did so enjoy being wrapped in the love of what was later to be known as my cocoon. It became really dark and suddenly I became afraid.

Had I left God, had God left me, or where was I? Why was so much was changing.

I began to stew, cook, and bake in my own juices. Many of my friends were no longer THERE. In fact I didn’t know where HERE was. My DNA was being altered. I no longer knew who I was. Maybe it was because I was no longer who I once was. In fact, I had lost all memory of so many things that were once upon a time critical to my life (can you say dogma and doctrine?). And then just as I was about to die (or had I already?), I felt I was being touched by a force I’d never felt before.

It was no longer dark and I was “drying out”.

And now I am FLYING. Woo-Hoo! Look at all those creatures walking on the ground. Look at those silly worms and things they call caterpillars. But alas, we who are a butterfly need to be cautious because we were once there. Remember? Life is a journey and we must trust the process. After all, it’s all God. The one caution though for us all (in this metaphor) is that we don’t get STUCK thinking that being a worm eating of the lush leafs of the word is the end game- heaven.

It’s not!

And guess what? Being a butterfly isn’t the end game either. Wait until you see what’s in store next (glory to glory)!