Be Renewed
Four years ago my sister-in-law in Florida invited me on a wonderful adventure. Well, I actually didn’t go anywhere, but it certainly was a beautiful experience. Colleen arrived home one day, only to discover a fuzzy caterpillar hanging on her front door. Soon, the caterpillar formed a chrysalis and Colleen promptly sent me a picture of the fragile newly-formed home still hanging on her turquoise colored entryway. Daily, Colleen observed the home of the butterfly-to-be and filled me in on the latest progress of the chrysalis, including details she researched. With all the action happening down South and us Northerners enduring another cold winter, Colleen’s updates provided a pleasant reprieve.
When I found out that the creature was now named Hope, I was thrilled. It seemed to me the perfect name considering the amount of anticipation invested from the butterfly-to-be’s own personal cheerleaders. When the chrysalis finally broke open, Colleen shared the happy news and identified her as a Gulf Fritillary butterfly. With windy South Florida skies prevailing, Hope fell from the door onto Colleen’s sweatshirt below and did not seem quite ready to fly. It was a cool night in Florida and my sister-in-law decided to bring her inside and made a little nectar station for Hope in a private dark room. Would Hope make it through the night? I waited on edge for an update the next morning and I was rewarded with good news. Hope had survived the night and launched her flight that morning into the Florida skies. We celebrated!
I think one of the most surprising things I learned on this adventure was what actually happened inside Hope’s chrysalis. Of course I knew before the chrysalis was formed, the caterpillar existed. But since the time I was a little girl, I assumed that the caterpillar stayed in the chrysalis until it grew beautiful wings and emerged as Hope, the butterfly. Imagine my amazement to learn that the first thing the caterpillar does in the chrysalis is digest itself, releasing enzymes to dissolve all of its tissues. In fact, if you could see inside the chrysalis, you would see what looked like caterpillar soup. Somehow this soup might begin with only 50 cells and increases to over 50,000 by the end of the whole butterfly-creation process called metamorphosis!
I don’t know about you, but lately I feel like I’m living in caterpillar soup. If I look around, much seems uncertain in our world. With a lingering pandemic, economic strain, political division, and social isolation producing mental health challenges, our days can feel unsettling. If we continue to ride this wave of uncertainty, we could easily be lost at sea! We do have another choice. In fact, the Bible encourages us to embrace our own metamorphosis! The apostle Paul encouraged the church in Rome with the following words:
“And do not be conformed to this world (any longer with its superficial values and customs), but be transformed and progressively changed (as you mature spiritually) by the renewing of your mind (focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes) so that you may prove (for yourselves) what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect (in His plan and purpose for you). (Romans 12:2 Amplified Version)
I’m realizing more and more that I must guard my quiet time of Bible reading and prayer because it is there that my mind is renewed. Just like the caterpillar soup, there are things inside of me that need to die so Christ can live. I can easily become conformed to the unstable world that surrounds me. It is in God’s presence that I embrace His truth, and my heart does a u-turn from uncertainty to trust. As I read His Word, pray, and meditate on His love for me, my soul finds rest. When I cry out to God, He throws the life preserver of His chrysalis-like presence around me! It calms me and carries me through every storm. He comforts me and restores me. In my quiet time, sitting at His feet, I find my unrest changed to peace, my weeping turned to joy, and my despair transformed into hope. It’s there in His presence that He gives me wings to soar high and be free, the way He created me to be. Time with my Maker every day…a necessity, a priority, a joy! He offers it freely…will you receive?
