Free to Fly

After several weeks of enduring whispers, predictions, impatience and daily peering, our Painted Lady butterflies finally emerged. It was a brutal winter: only two out of the five survived.

But the two that did survive were glorious!

We extended our hospitality for several more days, feeding them orange and watermelon slices. They seemed quite hungry. After all that time fasting, I don't blame them. :-)



After checking to see that the weather was agreeable, Elizabeth announced that it was time to set them free.



It was a little challenging to coax them out of their mesh cage but they eventually found their way out. One immediately took off. The other one touched down briefly on Daniel's palm, then on Elizabeth's palm, almost as if to bid them a final farewell.

Then a big gust of wind came rushing through and up, up, up and away our little butterfly floated. Jonathan screamed, "It's flying! It's flying!" The kids ran after it as long as they could until it was no longer in sight.

So long, Painted Ladies. You are free to fly.

The metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly is a wondrous thing. One creature becomes a completely different creature. It's a living parable of the transformation a person undergoes when they become a follower of Christ. Old things have passed away and all things have become new. All glory goes to God's redeeming power and His perfect timing.

This encourages me. During the difficult times in my life, like a caterpillar in a crysalis, I have found myself surrounded on every side by darkness. I am bound. There is nothing to do but to wait upon God. To rest on His promises. To trust in His faithfulness. And to know that He is found in the secret places.

When He finally allows His light to seep in, the shackles are destroyed. I am no longer bound. I stretch my wings with joy. I've traded crawling for flying. The blue sky beckons and the wind sings to my soul.

I am free to fly.

"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope." Psalm 130:5