Faith lesson from a caterpillar
12 Apr 2010 Leave a Comment
in The Growth of Wisdom Tags: caterpillar, Christian, faith, focus, God's voice, mom, monarch, perspective, young children
It was just another day, like so many others in the life of a mom with young children. Lunchtime. I was rushing as usual, my mind busy with everything and nothing. The boys’ monarch caterpillar was unimpressed by my need of the counter space occupied by the peanut butter jar that held it captive. I reached to move it out of the way, but, not really paying attention, knocked over the jar. Mildly annoyed by the distraction from my own thoughts, I again reached for the jar, being careful to actually look at it.
Unperturbed, the caterpillar munched its milkweed leaf.
Somehow, I again knocked over the jar. The caterpillar paid no attention as its unnatural home skidded across the counter and crashed into the toaster. This time I managed to get the jar safely into my hand. At least I thought the poor creature’s container was safe, but then I dropped it. The plastic jar bounced off the edge of the toaster and bounced again when it hit the counter.
Through all of the bouncing and rolling, one thing never changed: the caterpillar’s focus. The little creature’s entire world had been turned upside down. Repeatedly. Surrounded by chaos, its focus never shifted. All that mattered was eating that milkweed leaf.
My rushing was brought to an abrupt halt by the voice of the Lord. No, not some booming “MELINDA” from the heavens, but an unmistakable, inescapable impression in the very core of me.
This is what you need to do. This is how you need to be.
I really looked at the caterpillar. As oblivious of my scrutiny as it had been everything else, the caterpillar paid no attention to anything but its leaf.
Milkweed leaves are the only food of monarch caterpillars. The butterflies lay their eggs on the underside of the leaves. The eggs are only about the size of the period at the end of this sentence. When the tiny caterpillars hatch, they start the only job they have–eating milkweed leaves. They get everything they need by focusing their attention and energy on the source of their sustenance. They grow and grow, until it is time to form a chrysalis.
I need to remember the Source of my sustenance. I need to focus on Him no matter what is going on around me. Even if it seems my world has been turned upside down, all that is required of me is to focus on the One Who holds my world in His hands. When I am focused on Him, everything else is in the periphery, in proper perspective.
