I had a beautiful big black moth in my house a little while ago. I thought it was gorgeous, so velvety and soft looking, it had the big eyes on its wings and it was lovely. I took a photo and when the flash went off, the colour of those eyes wasn’t black like I thought, but a beautiful deep and brilliant blue.
It was a real shock, and a moment of pure excitement to discover something that was already fascinating, had a hidden treasure that I would not have seen without determining to discover more about it. The moth probably doesn’t have any idea about the way the scales on its wings reflect light in such different ways. If anything it was probably irritated by my getting in its face with the phone and taking photos with the flash on…
I often consider these verses: Romans 8:19-22, Mark 16:15, Psalm 19:1-4
For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. Romans 8:19 (NIV)
for the earnest looking out of the creation doth expect the revelation of the sons of God; Romans 8:19 (YLT)
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15 (NIV)
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. Psalm 19:1-4 (NIV)
Science is discovering the conversations or communications between plant species, in the form of electrical impulses and toxin releases. We’ve known for years that bees dance to tell each other where productive flowers are, and the voice of birds in in their different song. Domesticated animals ‘tell’ us what they need if we are in tune with their daily care, and being responsible owners.
One thing we haven’t been able to crack with great certainty yet is how much existential thought happens with species other than our own. Sometimes you would swear that true sentient thought radiates from a cat mind you… World domination moments anyone?? Also be careful not to get into arguments with a Seer about how much the natural world understands. You probably won’t win!
You know, I think that if caterpillars had as many existential crisis moments as I do, there would be far less butterflies and moths around.
If their brains got in the way of their growth the same way mine seems to at times, or in the way of getting from point A to point B. What a mess! Imagine them not being able to get where they need to because they have a bad antennae day, or they suddenly need to contemplate the meaning of their existence…!
What I want to talk about is the affect of change on who we are and whether we allow that change to really seep into the fabric of our reality, like a caterpillar making a complete change into a butterfly or a moth. Or do we contemplate the change and hold it out at arms’ length because it doesn’t feel right or we are scared of it somehow, even if it is something that we have wanted or needed for a very long time.
I wonder if we are so used to having to fight for the things that we need or for space to be who we are, that we have forgotten how to sit and wait and absorb change as it is happening.
Our world runs so fast now, that I think we think we have to run fast in it, in order to live in it effectively.
I know that sometimes it can very difficult to see our own breakthroughs as they are in the process of happening. Breakthroughs can come with an element of chaos, as Father re-organises things. Sometimes other people see things more clearly from the outside of the process than we do from the inside.
I kinda think that maybe my moth visitor has a point. Its brain doesn’t get in the way of being what it was created to be.
If I want to really be able to lay hold of the changes that God has wrought in my life, the significant differences in the way my body operates, the new way to eat for optimum health and well-being, being able to discern the times to rest and the times to work, how my brain functions best. All these require being in tune with myself in a way that means I need to leave a lot of my thinking behind, and instead live in a place of quietness, tuned into the Holy Spirit.
There’s a tiny little verse in Colossians that is simple and beautiful.
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2 (NIV)
I am a great advocate of stillness. If we are always fighting, fighting to gain ground, fighting to maintain ground, fighting, fighting, fighting; then we are never going to understand that really there is more depth and width and height available when we choose to fully inhabit the space God has given and is giving to us.
Allow yourself to become the change that is happening within you.
This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength,” Isaiah 30:15a (NIV)
There is time to take up our sword, there is time to walk a journey, there is time to hold ground that takes effort and deliberate action, but all these times will be best backed by the fullness of who we are soaked in the I AM.
God Bless You Very Much
Anita