We Have To Crawl Before We Fly
Today, we take a look at the Butterfly (originally called a Flutterby). It begins it’s life as an egg. This is the first stage. Then, then second stage is the Larva or Caterpillar. The next stage, number three, is the Pupa or Chrysalis. Inside of this enclosure, is where all the magic happens.
Within the Chrysalis, the old body parts of the caterpillar are undergoing a remarkable transformation, called ‘metamorphosis,’ to become the beautiful parts that make up the butterfly that will emerge. Tissue, limbs and organs of a caterpillar have all been changed by the time the pupa is finished, and is nowbutterfly ready for the final stage of a butterfly’s life cycle.
When the butterfly first emerges from the chrysalis, both of the wings are going to be folded against its body. This is because the butterfly had to fit all its new parts inside of the pupa. As soon as the butterfly has rested after coming out of the chrysalis, it will pump blood into the wings in order to get them working and flapping – and then they get to fly. Usually within a three or four-hour period, the butterfly will master flying.
So why am I explaining this process to you? Because it is incredibly similar to the spiritual transformation process of a human being. And this is very important. Before we learn to walk, we crawl on our belly … like a caterpillar. But what if we truly want to fly as a Butterfly? To become free of our bonds. To find Truth and live a life of abundance. To ascend to a higher level of consciousness.
We can do this … but it takes time, and it takes work and understanding. It also takes faith. Not “blind faith” that churches will present to us, but true faith. True faith is the knowingness of the Law of Cause And Effect, karma. This Law is immutable and cannot be transgressed. It is Faith and Knowing that there WILL be results from your thought energy. Your belief is that you know it to be true through personal experience … not someone else’s opinion.
As the caterpillar lives it’s Larva stage, it is merely existing. Eating, growing, and not knowing what lies ahead … like us. It spins a tomb for itself, as we do … trapped inside the darkness, alone, and not knowing what beauty and freedom lies ahead. If you interfere with this process in any way, it will be destroyed.
The transformation must begin from WITHIN. This metamorphosis is a struggle. Paul said in the NT Bible that he travails with us as the Christ is born within. The creature is becoming not just changed, not just transformed, but a metamorphosis - a transfiguration - meaning in the Greek “beyond or after form.” Not just something else, but something greater and more wonderful.
Once we go through the darkness, the tomb/cocoon, it is as if we are born again from the womb. Nicodemus asked of Jesus in John 3:4
“How can someone be born when they are old … Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’"
Once this transformation and metamorphosis is complete within us, there is NO going back again. It can’t be done. Just as a Butterfly cannot return to being a caterpillar … it is a new creature … born again. Romans 12:2 says:
“Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed (metamorphosis) by the renewing (re-new) of your mind …”
Once our mind has taken on the Truth of who we really are, the Divine Spark of God within - the Christ consciousness - we become the “new man.” The “old man” is dead … crucified. We transform from Adam (base nature) to Christ (Divine nature). We experience a resurrection within. The cross is the intersection of Spirit (Father) and Matter (Mother) and we become the begotten of God/Source.
We have no ego desire anymore to harm anyone, to present negative emotions such as anger, fear, and guilt. We live in peace and harmony with the entirety of humanity as we come to the understanding that we all originated from ONE Source, and therefore we are all ONE. We are an individualized essence of the whole (holy). As we grow from birth through childhood and adulthood, there will come a time when we must enter the darkness and isolation of the Chrysalis. But we have the advantage of knowing that once we emerge, we will be changed … never to go back to our old self and our old ways again.
Just a thought …
~Justin Taylor, ORDM., OCP., DM.
