(written 9/24/12)
We overlook the little things so often that it's almost painful.
The tiny, the ordinary, the taken-for-granted.
A butterfly, for example.
One decided to grace me this morning, by landing directly in my path.
It was brilliant, beautiful. Eye-catching and breath-hitching.
God teaches me really big lessons though really little things, and I love it.
Immediately I saw how similar to people she was, this butterfly, what a stunning snapshot of humanity she was.
The colors were the first things that caught my eye. Colors so radiant, that only God could create, and nature herself could display.
What struck me, was that without that color, she wouldn't be who she is. The color was strictly an identifier, what made the kind of butterfly she is unique. What those colors represented, how she is initially identified tells so much. She, as this particular kind of butterfly, is native to a particular geographic area. But it's this geographic area that tells of the surroundings, the climate, the food sources, the life, the struggles, the level of perseverance she has to develop to endure and overcome.
Hm.
My eyes are drawn to a blemish, a tear in the delicate wing, which provides flight, her mobility.
Aren't we all damaged? Haven't we all experienced something along our journey that damages us, hurts us, tears at our spirit? Something we have to recover from, something that changes us, who we are. Whatever this thing is, it leaves a mark, a scar. A reminder of the trauma endured, the battle overcome. One more thing in the list of life experiences that continues to shape the person we are becoming.
She closes her wings rhythmically, as if breathing. It's almost like I'm watching her tiny heart beat.
In the brief moments of her wings being together, I see the spots on the underside of her wings.
A stain here, an imperfection there. Flaws, faults, imperfections; we're all riddled with them. Sometimes they're hidden from immediate view.
Those imperfections, the dark discolorations, they don't take away from her beauty, they only add to her uniqueness.
And I'm struck: I need to look at ALL people this way:
As individuals, colorful and delightful; revelling in the uniqueness of each one, not judging for what they've been through.
Celebrating and loving each life as the precious gift it is, chosen and set apart for its very own journey and purpose.
