On Tuesday we visited a place called Tenby, an ancient walled town in West Wales roughly sixty miles west of where we live. My niece and her family were holidaying there and my husband and myself, my sister and brother in law and their two grandsons all met up with them and spent the afternoon walking around the very pretty town.
We had a lovely time and as we were making our way back to the car park we took a short cut through a small alleyway. About halfway through the alleyway I could see something moving slightly in a small space between some of the cobbled stones that we were walking on. When I bent down I could see that a butterfly had become trapped in a space between some of the cobbles that was about an inch and a half deep. It was slowly trying to flap its wings to get out but because the size of the space it was trapped in was the same as the size of the butterfly its wings were pushed up against the cobbles and it could not release itself. I managed to gently place my fingernails beneath one of its wings and slowly pulled it free. Then I lifted it up, released it from my fingers, and watched it fly away free.
I have to say that it was the finishing touch to a wonderful day. I could not believe that if someone had not suggested that we cut through that alleyway the butterfly would probably have stayed trapped and possibly died in the hole. It was then that I began to see a spiritual meaning to what had just happened.
This little creature that had wings to fly had become trapped down on the ground, where the wings it had been given were completely unable to do what they had been created to do. So too, just as the butterfly was prevented from flying while he was trapped down on the ground, we too shall be restricted in our spiritual abilities if we try to fit in with this world by conforming to its ways.
Romans ch. 12 vs.1 and 2 says 'Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will.'
32 comments:
Such profound insight from such a seemingly insignificant occurrence. Our Father does have a huge sense of humor, doesn't He?
You are right. We cannot claim to be lions, but hobnob with hyenas in the sense of conforming to the standards of this world. We were created to conform to a kingdom mindset. God bless you for sharing and directing your steps to cut that butterfly loose from its shackles.
Hi Brenda,
I am glad you had a good time away and through it all saved a butterfly. :)
I see something in this story you relayed. Sometimes as Christians we become trapped from our surroundings and are not able to do as we were created to do. We need other brothers and sisters to encourage us and help us along by freeing us from the burdens that surround us.
Blessings Brenda,
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Hi Unyime-Ivy,
Yes it is so strange how the Lord has made us isn't it. He knows that I have always loved little creatures and with the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit shows me the spiritual meaning of my encounters with them. God bless you.
Hi child of God,
yes even as Christians we can not avoid the old man trying to entice us back into the worldly way of trying to solve our problems. We are all one in Christ Jesus and are to encourage one another in whichever way the Lord has enabled us to.
God bless you.
Oh how precious Brenda. Thank you for sharing. Hugs dear one.
Hi Brenda,
A short and sweet post.
Another illustration came to me as I read of your rescue of the butterfly: The insect in its helpless state is just like us in our former helpless state as sinners.
Just as it took someone like you to rescue the creature, so it had to take someone like Jesus Christ to rescue us.
God bless.
Hi Frank,
yes there are so many meanings that one happening can have, and I love the fact that we are all different, are able to view things differently depending on which scripture has also been highlighted to us, and yet are all one in Jesus.
God bless you and your wife.
Hi JBR,
the butterfly was precious to me and so are you to God. Never forget that Grace.
God bless you.
I think this message presented in here is for me. I have been wondering for weeks now which direction to go in regards to something I was working on and persons told me too pursue it further. I sat and wondered honestly for months, I said weeks, but really it's been months. I wondered if this is God's will or mine.
I've noticed everytime a person sees that someone has an ability or is good at something, even if only a little bit, people say you could be doing this you could be making all kinds of money; and it makes me upset to be honest. It's like that's all people care about or think we were given certain abilities for, to become rich or famous.
I feel in some ways I was trying to fit in to this world with my abilities. I don't want to but I wasn't sure for sure if that's what I was doing or if it's was just my mind, or if God was trying to get me to understand what His will is.
I guess for so long I have been just here not really doing anything most would think is impressive and was trying to make some type of wave or something so people could say I made something of my life. I want so badly not to care about what people think of my life, but I find myself thinking of it often.
I've been praying to God asking for guidance, to help me make the right decision that is according to His will not mine and my desire to show people I'm not a nobody. I think your post helped me to understand that perhaps I'm like that butterfly caught between those stones.
Sateigdra,
I have made many cards, bookmarks, written booklets etc, and at one time used to take them to craft centres and sell them just for what it cost me to make them. I felt totally wrong. I have lots of them in drawers and give them away when I feel it right. All these things came from knowing the Lord and having my mind renewed in Him. Many of them have been included in my posts. Freely I was given - freely I am to give. I believe absolutely that the Lord provides. I have always been tested in two things, sickness and finance and the Lord has been my provider in both. The stories are amazing and everywhere He takes my husband and myself has a beautiful purpose in it. Everything belongs to Him and if we first seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, found in Jesus, then all else will be added.
God bless you Sateigdra, I love your openness in the Lord and your honesty.
Wow, Brenda just read your lovely response. Thank you dear one. You are precious as well. Hugs.
What a lovely illustration, Brenda! I love how God speaks to us in the "small" and quiet moments that are so rich with meaning. May God bless you & your ministry.
Laurie
Hi Laurie,
I too find God amazing, and yes the way He speaks to us is very meaningful. He knows that I could not have left that butterfly trapped and He was the one who also brought the spiritual message into my mind. God bless you and your ministry too Laurie.
You are very welcome JBR. God bless you.
Brenda, you post speaks of a heart to help others be free, even one of God's creations. Beautiful analogy. Love the pictures too. Blessings.
Hello Betty,
lovely to meet you. The Lord is the most beautiful One who helps others. Knowing what He has done for me and all of us makes me cry, and when I cry I pray. I believe He uses what He has already placed in us for His purpose, and He knows I love little creatures. When I was a little girl, I used to look down everywhere I walked because I did not want to step on an ant. This would sound ridiculous to some, but that is how He has made me. He knew I would want to free that butterfly, then He showed me the spiritual meaning. God bless you Betty.
What a wonderful history: butterfly! I love it. And also the spiritual lesson. Nice pictures. What a beautiful region.
Knuffel/hug.
Hi Jedidja,
Yes it was a beautiful day, in a beautiful place with a beautiful spiritual message. God bless you.
In our daily prayer before starting practice for our dance ministry, my husband and I offer our bodies to Him as a holy, acceptable living sacrifice, which is our reasonable service. May you have a blessed week in Him,
Laurie
Thank you Laurie,
and may you have a blessed week in Him too, both you and your husband.
Just been on a short break to Wales too; perfect weather and perfect place. I love the story attached to your travels too; so true and poignant, even regardless of the profound message it was just such a sweet thing to do.
Hello Tim,
I have been missing your blog as I am sure others have, but I did wonder if you had gone over to North Wales which I know you have enjoyed in the past. We can not help how we are made can we eh? Over the past few days I have seen injured birds and I find it very hard to deal with, but there is usually a spiritual message in it for me.
hello aunty Brenda!!!
I trust all is very well with you?
its been a while I dropped a comment on your blog even though I always come on here to read all your inspiring posts. Thanks for sharing yet another deep post that will get all of us thinking.
thanks for all the comments on blog, may God continue to bless you and yours always.
Hi Priscy,
I love the 'aunty Brenda' bit. I have really got to make more time to look at everyone's blog. The trouble with me is that I always have 'ten fingers in ten pies'. The older I get the more I seem to be doing, and that is because I love communicating with people and writing. May God continue to bless you and yours also.
Praying for you and your ministry, Brenda! You are such a blessing.
Thank you for your prayers Laurie,
it is so important that we spread the gospel of the real blessing, our Lord Jesus Christ, isn't it. I know that you agree, I see it in your ministry.
God bless you.
How are you now Brenda. Hug from me.
Still waiting patiently on the Lord as He instructed me. Had great pain on one side of my head and face just after He promised to heal me, but that seems to have gone altogether now, praise the Lord. It is a spiritual battle we are in, but I believe that if we, like Abraham, believe what God has said to us then what He has promised will come into being.
God bless you Jedidja.
Hi Brenda,
Wow, it's been awhile...I've missed you, my friend!
The first thing that I saw in my mind as you described the trapped butterfly, was just how fragile those wings are, and to be caught in such a hard spot between rocks makes me think about how fragile and delicate our freedom in Christ really is when we get caught up in the hardness of this world...we have two choices, either stay there and die, or wait for one who has the strength to move away those rocks.
In our case, that one is Jesus...and for that poor little creature you were his savior that day.
Blessings and love~ Lisa
Hi Lisa,
I was worried about the butterfly's wings too. Thank the Lord I was able to free him with no harm to them. It was absolutely beautiful to see him fly away. I was so glad that someone had suggested going down that passage. I know this would sound strange and maybe crazy to some, but that is how I am made - we are all different, and then the spiritual meaning came.
God bless you Lisa.
Greetings ma'am, It's been ages (smiling)
It's interesting, 'cause yesterday I was speaking with about 40 of my students and we were amazed about how people (even believers) run with public opinion, believing that if the majority holds "the view" then it's got to be right. We claim that the voice of the people is the voice of God (Vox popli, vox Dei). But this my conclusion, the fact that everyone agrees with it, doesn't make it right. God remains the absolute standard and we must stand for Him, even if we must stand alone. Selah
Thank you so much for sharing...
Hello Brave African,
how beautifully you have put it. It is the word of God that has to be the plumb line, and I believe that we can miss out and remain carnal by not making it so. How can we say that we believe in God when we believe man above Him.
God bless you.
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