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Sometimes it takes a new perspective to help us see clearly. I read a page in the April/May 2022 issue of Guidepost this morning. (That’s how far behind I am in what I consider to be “casual” reading…you know, the stuff that piles up while I’m doing the important reading for researching books, or doing the book club book of the month, or other “necessary” deadlined things. This is a page by Melody Bonnette Swang about a visit between neighbors. One was asking the other about what plant choices to make for her garden. After admiring the colors and plants of the neighbor, the visitor noticed a plant without leaves, looking forlorn.
The neighbor said it was the most valuable plant she had. It was all in perspective. That particular plant was a host for butterflies, and the caterpillars had indeed destroyed it. But, put into perspective, the resulting butterflies told the story of why the plant looked less than beautiful. It had given itself for a better purpose.
Now, we can use this as a metaphor for many outcomes, but the best one is that we need to take our circumstances, make the best of them, and pay the experience forward for others. I just did that with my hygienist at the dentist. I told her about my recent hip surgery and how “easy” it was to take that action and put away the pain that I’d allowed in my life for several previous months. She is in agony right now. I provided her the impetus ti may take for her to trust that the outcome will be beautiful, as mine is.
This is the Bible verse that heads the page on the butterfly illustrated page in my magazine: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” It is from James 1:17. In my experience, that host plant will revive in time for the next crop of butterflies to lay eggs. Those eggs, at just the right time will hatch, and the caterpillars will devour the luscious leaves God has prepared for them, and beauty will be the result as the butterflies, symbols of new life and resurrection, beautify the world once again with their illustration of god’s good and perfect gift from above. The cycle will repeat because God, the Father of the heavenly lights, has so willed it. That cycle does not change like shifting shadows, but will reoccur because God, the Creator of all good things, guides and guards His creation. So, as we submit to His will, he will use us to pass on His truths. Do your part today to make the world a better place, bringing beauty out of apparent tragedy
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