I think I am currently in chrysalis mode.
It’s probably got a lot to do with the blah time of year- we’re at the very end of February, and although the promise of spring beckons, I realistically (in Canada) know it’s going to be a while until we can shed the layers and feel the warmth of energizing sunshine on our bare arms.
Sometimes I don’t mind being in my chrysalis. I’ve hobbled quite nicely through winter as a caterpillar and now I am tightly bound in a very comfortable shell, nothing scary or unfamiliar. But something stirs within me when the chrysalis starts getting a little tight, and I know it’s time.
Time to get my butterfly on. Time to shake my butterfly wings.
Before you deem me as off my rocker completely, hear me and my metaphors out. Life takes us through seasons, sometimes they are slow and the bleakness of winter can last way too long, or spring comes upon us before we think we’re ready. Lazy, hazy summers can be cut tragically short, and then sometimes we are pleasantly surprised when fall brings all its pumpkin pie comfort. No matter which season we are in, we know that it will change and keep changing- and change IS good. (Honestly.)
Back to my bug rant- we need our caterpillar stage to learn to walk. It might be taking baby steps with a new challenge, entering into marriage or employment or parenthood or bereavement. We might not look too pretty as we toddle along on our pudgy little legs with our belly scraping the ground, but at least we’re moving in the right direction.
We find comfort eventually in our lovely little chrysalis. As I said before, we find no fear here and we quite like the idea of just hanging, hidden away for a very , very long time. But we were created with a drive, a zest for life, an inquisitive nature. Before long, we simple KNOW we need to break free.
Part of that breaking free and getting our butterfly wings is in looking beyond ourselves. The following says it so eloquently, but basically we enjoy freedom more when we love others. Christ has set us free, and we get to use that freedom fully in showing love by our words and our actions. And we can’t do that very effectively from inside our cozy chrysalis…
“It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom.” (Galatians 5:13-14- The Message)
I hope my ramblings make some sense. We need a little chrysalis time to group and prepare, but spring is around the corner friends, and there’s a great big meadow to be loved!
Spread those butterfly wings!
