Just before my family and I moved from Tucson to Dana Point we visited the Butterfly exhibit at the Botanical Gardens. It was an amazing experience to see all of the different Butterflies and how they adapted to their environment. I believe that this experience was the beginning of this series. What I saw was a huge reminder of God's unfathomable beauty.
Butterflies are a great example of something that can be 'seen' and 'unseen'. When a butterfly senses danger it usually keeps it's wing together as a means to quickly fly away. However, when it senses a calmness in the air it will land and open its wings as a means for resting (or letting its guard down). While this doesn't happen very often, most either have wings that make them more noticeable and scary (pictured below) or wings that help them blend to their surroundings (pictured above).
When I think about this in terms of what I can relate to, it could be argued that the butterflies willingness to 'rest' is their way of embracing 'faith'. They feel at ease enough in the moment to 'let their guard down' and 'trust' the 'nature' of their creation to protect them. We can apply this example to our lives as Christians as well. Scripture states in 2 Cor. 5:7 "We live by faith, not by sight" (NIV). When we think about this verse and then about the 'nature' of The Butterfly Factor, we can find encouragement.
Even as the Butterfly 'lets down it's guard', they 'trust' that 'nature' will always be ready give them a sense to spread their wings and fly away when need be. However, they have the since to embrace the 'nature' around them just as we can embrace our 'faith' in God. While we always need to be on guard as scripture says in 1 Cor. 16:13 "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong," (NIV) we must also 'stand firm in the faith' that we have attained from God.
Even though we may not always be able to see whats coming, both the Butterfly (nature) and we (God) have a protector that is always looking out with us. If we as Christians embrace The Butterfly Factor in our lives, we are trusting that God is on our side (which he always is) and that he will show us when we need to be 'on our guard' in case we need to act. Instead of focusing so much on what is around us, why don't we focus on letting God show us when the it is time to 'fly' and when it is time to 'rest'.
Thanks again for visiting "The Gathering Room"
Stand Strong and continue to believe the teachings given to you... (2 Thes. 2:15b NCV),
M.E.
