Fall

I'm always a little sad to see summer come to a close, this year it seemed to come so fast our family didn't get to do many of the things we wanted to do. Summer, in my mind, represents a more carefree, laid-back lifestyle, despite the fact that work schedules don't change and activities often increase.

After summer comes fall (duh...=). I love fall. I love the the weather, I love the colors of fall, I love the Holidays, I love the changing of the leaves, I love the sport it brings (Go Illini Football!) And I love seeing these little guys all over the road as I drive to town.





And although I like to see those cute little caterpillar's on the road, I've never much of a butterfly person. I mean, sure, they're pretty and all, but they seem to girl-y and delicate somehow for my taste, just not my thing.




As I was watching the caterpillars slink across the road, then seeing the butterflies flit about, I started to think about their life cycle, and for the first time, I looked at this strange Lepidoptera (hey...I work in entomology...=) and saw something beautiful and miraculous.



I'm such a slow-processor, I'm sure this is old news for many of you, but I had this revelation. The more I thought about these furry, unattractive, woolly worms becoming pupa, going on to become butterflies, the more I began to see the similarities between this process and the plan Jesus has for you & me. Let me explain.
When we're born, we're sort of like the caterpillar in a rapid growth stage. As we go about our business of independence we put on our layers of sin and cloth ourselves in unrighteousness, much like the chrysalis (or pupa). But then, having shed it's previous skins, the adult butterfly breaks free from the chrysalis that binds it, emerging and flying free, much like the freedom we experience in Christ.

When this clicked for me, it excited me and gave me hope. I've been trying to live like Jesus for a really long time and most days, it ain't pretty, but this reminded me that in God's eyes I am, we all are, already beautiful.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
II Corinthians 5:17