The lowly caterpillar. As kids, we tend to be infatuated with them as they are often full of vibrant colors. They move slowly enough to be easily caught by little hands, and so they are.

I remember the days of a caterpillar in a jar with leaves and grass, and holes in the lid so it could breathe. Remember letting that multi-legged creature crawl slowly around your hand, weaving in-and-out between your fingers? If you were really brave, you would let the caterpillar tickle its way up your arm, maybe even to your neck.

Then, we grow up and the once beautiful and fun becomes an irritating creature that eats our plants. The only good that a caterpillar now brings to the adult world is butterflies. Why can’t they just be born butterflies?Why the slow moving, worm-like creature that consumes our plants and poops balls necessary?

One year, when growing a garden, I decided to not fight my parsley eaters. But my generosity wasn’t for the caterpillar. I wanted to raise butterflies. To that end, I made sure there was plenty of parsley for them to get to chrysalis stage. Do you have any idea how much those little critters can eat?

I lost some along the way. Either they moved on, or were found by birds. Four of the caterpillars made it to chrysalis stage in my garden on a nearby tomato plant. They were finally getting closer to their purpose.  

Throughout every day I would watch for the chrysalis to move with the hope of seeing the butterfly emerge. After a couple of weeks, it finally happened. I saw movement! I knew not to help the butterfly enter the world in any way. It is the struggle to leave the chrysalis that gives the butterfly the strength to live. If I helped, the butterfly would die.

The same holds true for you and me. In order to emerge as strong, healthy people from one stage of self to another, there must be struggle. Avoiding the struggle prevents the completion of your transformation process.

I used to hate the idea of struggle. Now that I know what it leads to and how to journey through it, I no longer avoid struggle. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t go looking for it, I have just learned how to be available to it.

Thankfully, I was present for two of the black swallowtails to break open that protective cloak and squeeze out. Once out, I was able to coax one of them onto my finger while it continued to unfurl those tender wings. It was a very moving process to experience first-hand. The lowly caterpillar had truly transformed into a beautiful butterfly.

As a result of that up-close look at the external, visible metamorphic journey, I found myself wondering about the chrysalis. What happened in there? What was going on behind that magic curtain that led to such an amazing transformation?

To be continued….