Chrysalis
When I was a girl, Mum would sometimes take me with her on trips to the garden centre. I loved the garden centre. Pressing my nose into the petals of the roses, the little brightly-painted gnomes there amongst the plants, but my favourite thing of all was off in the corner where the swan plants were. If I was lucky we would be there at just the right time to see the plants laden with stripy caterpillars, inching their way, and gorging on the green leaves.
I loved the swan plants with the caterpillars, and one day Mum agreed to buy one and take it home with us.
We planted it at the bottom of the garden, and it was a source of endless fascination for me. Lying on the warm grass in the sun and watching as the caterpillars grew fatter and fatter, the leaves becoming thinner and thinner. Eventually the caterpillars would disappear, and in their place were these silken cocoons, these delicate things hanging there like drops of dew.
Day after day I would go down to the bottom of the garden to see, and nothing would have changed, just these pale green chrysalises hanging with this lovely thread of gold just near the top. Sometimes I would lean in for a closer look. Was anything happening in there? I would wonder. You mustn’t touch them, Mum had said. Why not? I had asked. Because something special is taking place inside, she said knowingly. You’ll see, she said.
And then one day, I did.
It was like something magical happening before my eyes. The thin seal of the chrysalis was broken, and hanging there was this fragile creature, who, after some time would extend her beautiful wings, the colour of flames, and fly.
I was thinking about this memory today.
This seemingly sudden transformation. Metamorphosis, it’s called. The striking change in a creature’s form and constitution and appearance, and in the case of the Monarch butterfly, into something beautiful and free with a new capacity to fly. Capacity not there in her old form. Before the chrysalis. Before that time of reforming, reshaping, of growth.
The Bible says that we are being transformed into the image of Jesus from glory to glory by the Holy Spirit 2 Cor.3:18, and I was thinking about the times when this transformation looks a lot like the chrysalis in this story from my childhood.
To the outside, it looks as if nothing at all is happening, day after day after day. But you know differently. You know that God is at work in you, but it’s deep down. Invisible. His gentle nudges, His stretching. Slowly, surely you are being changed. Maybe it’s that you can forgive where you couldn’t before. You are finally able to surrender, to give a part of your life to God, in an area where you couldn’t before. You are growing in faith or in patience or in generosity. You are being transformed into the image of Jesus. Metamorphosis.
It may not be visible for a time, inside the chrysalis with God, but one day it will be. Something special is taking place inside, so let’s keep on with hope, and by God’s grace, we will each emerge in His perfect time, transformed more into His image. Beautiful and free, with new capacity to fly.
P.S. I don’t think that is a Monarch in the picture above, and it’s not a swan plant, but I thought it was a nice pic anyway
Good evening. Great analogy and something that has been front and center here. From our very limited vantage point it may occasionally seem that we’re in kind of a holding pattern. But the Lord who knows our hearts, knows the hearts of all who are around us, and sees the end from the beginning, has a prfect plan. Pateince can be a real struggle, but only in waiting on God can we expect to be in the right place at the right time.
Psalm 46:10 is something that we must practice continually. The archive entry for Dec 1969 reminded me that I’ve visited here before. Your site is now on my ever-lengthening blogroll so that I can get by more often.
Metamorphosis.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
2 Corinthians 5:17
It looks like a monarch to me drinking from lantana. A very Texas scene, actually. Could be my front yard. ;)
“It may not be visible for a time, inside the chrysalis with God, but one day it will be.”
I’m holding on to that hope today.
Thanks, Birg. Love you.
Hey, look! It’s another blog on the famous Timbob blogroll!
I guess we’re both talking about metamorphosis lately. Wish I has read this one first. It was beautifully written.
Hi timbob, great to see you again! You make really good points here about keeping on trusting God, being patient, as hard as this can be, and being faithful to Him, knowing He is working out a perfect and good plan. Thanks so much for your insights, and for adding me to your blogroll :) Many blessings.
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Hi Dwight, lovely to hear from you, and I hope you’re well! Brilliant verse to reflect the meaning of metamorphosis – what an amazing transformation that takes place spiritually when we become children of God! Bless you.
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Oh thanks for that Michelle, I wondered whether it was a monarch or not, and you even knew the plant – brilliant! :) Yes, I would love to see your beautiful garden one of these days God-willing! ;)
And I saw it was your birthday recently, HAPPY BIRTHDAY my friend, with much love, may God’s blessings be with you in the year ahead xo
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Hi M – wow, you wrote on metamorphosis too, that’s great! God must be encouraging us with this point about the transformation that takes place in Him :) Many thanks for stopping by and for your encouragement.
This is a lovely post Birgit. It is such a perfect example of the time factor. I think how often we want to rush a period of transition or change, and just get through it as quickly as possible, but if the caterpillar did that, imagine what he would like!:) I like how your Mom told you here- Don’t touch! Good advice for our own lives, God is doing His special work, even if we can’t see it and get impatient. And if we allow His process we will end up with the most beautiful wings and be able to fly! Quite a step up from being a caterpillar! ;)
A lovely analagy – inteesting how young children think about things. Lx
I remember, the plant was between the two cabbage trees at the end of the front balcony where we used to jump off .
Lovely piece Birg :)
I love the point you make here about the time factor, Rain. So often it’s a case of ‘the faster the better’ for me when God is growing me in an area, but He is never rushed ;) Hope you’re well, love and blessings xo
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Hi Aunty Lorraine, and also the things that we remember from our childhood. So many lovely memories …
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Hi Markus – exactly! :D Great memories right there! Love you xo
I heard Joyce Meyer teach one time that inside the Chrysalis the caterpillar actually becomes liquid before it begins to take shape. How many times have I felt like a liquified worm!
Yep, I know what you mean Cyndi :D That is such a great point from Joyce Meyer’s teaching – total breakdown before the reforming part. God bless!
Birgit – How do you do it? Really. Beautiful imagery. God has gifted you as a writer and you are being faithful to develop that gifting. … and your mom was very sweet when you were growing up it would seem.
This is so encouraging @ngie, thank you for what you said here. I love thinking back to the lovely stories from childhood, and yes, Mum was (and is) truly wonderful :). A blessing from God.