Tip of My Iceberg

I was recently at a butterfly exhibition where the beautiful winged creatures were fluttering around the enclosure. Then I spotted this display–a multitude of chrysalises at various stages of development. Some butterflies were ready to emerge; others were earlier in the process. The hard outer covering protecting the pupae is of their own creation. It provides a safe haven while the caterpillar metamorphoses to a butterfly.

I’ve had a fascination with butterflies for years. I almost walked away from that interest in the fifth grade when Paul Zimmerman brought a board of pinned-on butterflies to school for his science project. Each was carefully labeled, pinned down at the wings. He succinctly described each species. Then he explained how he’d captured each and gently killed them so they would remain whole for his collection. He described his killing jar, which had some absorbent material on the bottom soaked in ethanol. He’d put the living butterfly in it, and it would soon succumb to the fumes.

I was appalled. My fascination quickly drained to disgust. When we left school that day, I remember yelling, “bug killer” at him.

He did eventually become an entomologist. Some people have a dream that’s lasted forever.

I remember when I first learned how squirmy, squishy caterpillars would someday become beautiful butterflies. I refused to believe it. I argued with my teacher, explaining that it wasn’t logical for a long insect with many legs to turn into a different creature with wings.

She was patient with me. I stayed after school so she could better explain the process.

photo courtesy of Suzanne D. Williams on Unsplash

It is incredible when you think that something quite plain and unattractive can morph into something so alluring. We’re all impressed when something or someone quite ordinary transforms into a gorgeous vision. “My Fair Lady” is the story of a poor, young Cockney woman who is the test subject of two men, one believing he can reshape this awkward young woman so completely that she would pass for a duchess. They made it happen.

We’d all like to be changed for the better, whether it’s in our abilities, looks, prospects, or belongings. Improvements are what we long for because we know we can be better. No matter how confident we are with who we are.

Real change that lasts can only come from One who has the power to make permanent change. We can’t make big changes based on our will or best intentions–we will fail. People who know Jesus are changed from within by Him

“Because of this decision, we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at Him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with Jesus, the Messiah, gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life begins!” 2 Corinthians 2:16-17.

The change Jesus promises is full forgiveness, our slates wiped clean, so that we are seen by God as new in Him and clean.

Butterflies are beautiful pictures of what real change can look like. But they’re short-lived, here today and gone tomorrow.

Our change in Jesus?

That lasts for eternity.