Stuck on the Clouds

Pale blue stretching on forever, clear and bright;

Puffy white cotton balls floating beneath smoky streams;

Dark threatening clouds blanketing the air;

Colors streaking out, painting clouds pink;

Or the heavens turned black to reveal their glimmering lights --

I admit it.

I may have a slight obsession with the sky.

The atmosphere entirely captivates my view. I see nothing else when I step outside.

...Perhaps that's not true. I see the rest.

Yet, when I step outside, the sky is where my gaze is pulled.

Immediately.

Constantly.

Always and forever, my eyes are pulled up.

Up, up to where the butterflies dance and the bumble bees rush.

Up, up to where the birds soar at heights we could never reach.

Up, up to where the wind circles and gusts, unable to be felt.

Up, up to where our world meets the unknown,

And touches what is far beyond our sight.

I'm stuck looking up,

Obsessed with the beauty of the skies,

And the mystery that lies beyond.

Butterflies and Bible Lessons

I was working at the science center during the Butterfly Adventure event. Each room in the building featured some butterfly related activity, from crafts to experiments, to simple pictures on the walls. The room I was in that morning was filled with the butterflies life cycle. (Okay, actually the specimens on display were moths.) One table held big fat caterpillars, another displayed tiny eggs and old cocoons. The last table held a tall, mesh, pop up cage filled with freshly hatched luna moths.

It was a fairly quiet morning, so when a family with four kids entered the room they had my full attention. I watched as the dad noticed the butterfly displays and walked over to them, seizing an opportunity. 

"Hey, come look at this," he said, gathering his children close. "Look at these caterpillars." Picking up one of the spiky green larvas, he continued. "Pretty soon these guys are going to wrap themselves up and change into butterflies. It's just like how God changes us. The Bible says He makes us into a new creature.." The dad continued to explain the verse for a moment, his kids smiling and nodding. As soon as he finished, they were off staring at the other animals. They seemed totally unaffected by the lesson, but I couldn't help thinking about it. 

Though the analogy of the butterfly is often used when explaining the "new creation" verse, I never considered how perfect the example is. 

When the caterpillar crawls into its cocoon, it doesn't die and have another being pop into existence in its place. Instead, the larva is changed; every fiber in its body is transformed into a new shape and appearance. it hatches as a new creature, though it is still the same being. The butterfly is the final form of the caterpillar, not a separate life. 

See, we all can agree that when a butterfly lays an egg, a caterpillar is what will hatch. There is no way that the egg can crack open and have a butterfly come out, and skip over the wormlike step. The caterpillar has to come first but we all know the butterfly is what it is supposed to become. 

Think of this in regards to the spiritual condition. Sin is our inescapable caterpillar stage. We are born into this world as sinners, unable to hatch as anything else. For a period of time we go through life unaware of our state. Though it is our fate due to the fall, sin was never the life that was prepared for us. God has made plans and preparations so that we can be transformed into what He wants us to be: His children. 

When we become Christians we aren't shedding off the core of who we are in order to be replaced by perfect people. Instead, every fiber of our soul is slowly being transformed into what we were always meant to be. The old appearance and habits no longer fit with who we are as we grow into maturity. Sin loses its hold on us. We become the people we were created to be.

We shed off our caterpillar skin and trade it in for butterfly wings.

2 Corinthians 5:17, "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things have passed away; behold, all things are become new." 

Independence Day

Gunshots cut through the air. Shouts and screams accompany the earth-shattering clamor of cannonballs crashing to the ground. The smell of gunpowder mixes with the stench of sweat and blood, and soil tossed up by the destruction. The war continues. 

The sun continues to rise as I walk out of my room to the kitchen. I smile as I tell my parents good morning and they look up from their food preparations to respond. In a moment they turn back to cutting vegetables and marinating meat for lunch today.

In a moment, a meeting room is quieted and a vote is called for. The delegates have come together to discuss one question: Will the colonies declare independence? Do they want to adopt this resolution? 
    
   "When in the course of human events..."

No events for us today. We'll celebrate with a simple day at home, hanging out with family. My sister pulls up in the driveway, coming to visit. All smiles and excitement and I wouldn't have it any other way.

The vote is almost unanimous. The delegates have decided, independence is the only way.  Two days later, the Declaration of Independence is formally adopted. It marks the nearing of the end of battle. 

I step outside to a battle ensuing, my sister and brother attacking each other with water guns. I hold my tray of food a little higher. "Hold your fire, hold your fire." They stop to let me pass and I grin. As soon as I'm down the hill, they begin again. I place the food on the table next to the grill and then wrap my arms around my father. "Happy Fourth of July Daddy."

He returns my hug. "Happy 4th of July baby girl."

I sit down next to my mom and stare up at the blue skies and watch the birds flying free.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America...solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States... And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.  

Happy Fourth of July to all those who live in America today.