Beautiful Chrysalis?

Things rarely turn out the way I plan them.  You would think I have learned this lesson by now, and I would stop obsessing about my own plans.  Looking back at my life up until now, I can see that God has given me what I needed when I needed it.  Every amazing blessing has come about through giving up a part of myself and my desires to pursue God and where He takes me.  Mexico has been nothing like I imagined it would be, and that’s ok.  I’m in the midst of being transformed, and if everything was easy and as I expected, how would I change? 

As November approaches, so does the time of year when Monarch Butterflies will migrate to parts of southern Mexico.  I’ve been doing a little bit of research about these creatures, and I have been reminded about how important change is.  In one year, the butterfly life cycle will begin and end four times, with the last generation living a bit longer to ensure the survival of the species through the migration process.  Each life cycle consists of four parts as well: larvae, caterpillar, chrysalis, and adult butterfly.  While this cycle cannot be completely parallel with the Christian life-cycle, I do see similarities.  The larvae and caterpillar stages are all about eating and taking in the needed energy to allow their bodies to make it through metamorphosis in the chrysalis stage.  So it is with Christians.  We have an infancy stage in which we require information to be fed to us in order to withstand the changes that will come later.  Some of us never make it past this stage in our transformation and so never reach adult butterfly stage.  Some of us try to jump ahead to quickly and do now receive enough information to make it to that last stage either.  Currently I view myself in the “chrysalis” phase.  God is in the midst of morphing me into the creation He has in mind for me to be.  Many changes are taking place, and honestly, I hate them.  Why can’t I just stay a caterpillar forever?  It’s a life I know and is comfortable for me.  But I believe God calls each of us away from that comfort zone eventually.  I cannot affect real change in my world if I do no leave my comfort zone.  God has a beautiful end for me, and in order for me to attain that last stage I have to go through immense pain and changes.  I hope one day to respond as Heimlich did in A Bug’s Life: “Look at me!  I’m a beautiful butterfly!”—Only I hope to be more transformed than just a pair of wings jutting out from my back!

By the way, I’m reading The Dream Giver: Following Your God-Given Destiny by Bruce Wilkinson, and it talks about some of the ideas above using a parable.  I find it challenging but also comforting in the midst of my time here in Mexico.

Saludos!