Finding Your Wings
Gott’s Thoughts
During this extended time at home due to Covid19, Ellen and I have been walking quite a bit more over the last couple of weeks. Along the trails and sidewalks, we have seen several Eastern Swallowtails butterflies. The yellow one in particular has deep significance to us. That’s a story for another time, though. What has been fluttering around in my head is how the life cycle of these marvelous creatures is a powerful metaphor for our life journeys. When a caterpillar hatches from its egg, it immediately begins to eat. And eat, and eat, and eat. Essentially it eats its whole surrounding. (Similar to my children). For the first stages of its life, it essentially just consumes and grows, becoming a larger and larger caterpillar. I suppose at some point, it begins to wonder if that is all there is, simply eating and getting bigger. Something shifts and a deep calling pushes it to look inward. A transformation begins. Taking on a new direction and form, it isolates itself in a chrysalis. (We can certainly relate to how that must feel at the moment.) In that transition, the caterpillar realizes that there is more to this life than just consumption. I imagine that it may be a lonely and scary time for the little creature. Yet, in time, a metamorphosis occurs; an awakening of its true self begins.
The next phase is a challenging one as well. With its new sense of purpose and direction, it must shed its prior life. It is no easy task. The process requires it to bite a small hole in its chrysalis and slowly squeeze itself out. This appears to be a painful and stressful journey. There have been some observers who felt that they would help the process along by cutting open the chrysalis to speed up the process. This produces a misshapen creature with undeveloped wings which sadly dies soon there after. So, it is a necessity for the caterpillar to endure the pressure and strain of struggling through its constraints so that the fluids in its body will move into the budding wings and allow them to take full form. Then and only then, can the transformation be completed. What started out as essentially a worm emerges as one of the most beautiful things on earth.
So, with the combination of a quarantine and the arrival of spring, we have the opportunity to reflect on this phenomenon. Where are we in the cycle? Are we in the early stage of growth where we are more egocentric. Just trying to see what all can we consume? Or have we begun the chrysalis phase where we are wrestling with the essential questions of who we are? Have we begun the hard work of releasing our wings? This process of change is ongoing in each of us. We need to allow the trials and tribulations as well as the joys and victories to teach us and guide us into the full discovery of who we are and what we have to offer. When we do, this incredible metamorphosis of becoming our true self gives us meaning and purpose. We are meant to fly! We are meant to bring beauty to the world around us!
One last extension of the analogy. It is said in chaos theory that the movement of a butterfly’s wings on one side of the planet may create a storm overseas. As we determine our personal abilities and influence, we will have an impact on those around us. We can change our world by simple acts of kindness, a comforting word, giving an honest days work, providing a meal, or just smiling. If you have found your wings, ride the winds and share those colors. If you haven’t yet, just remember, you will not remain a caterpillar forever. Have faith, the butterfly in you is coming.