March 15, 2007

Waiting

Our children’s ministry is hatching butterflies as a part of their celebration of Lent. Susan Burden makes a light-hearted report on how they are doing in our weekly staff meetings. This little experiment in nature is a great experience for our children, but it is also a good reminder about the rhythms of nature for us all. As I thought about it, I was reminded of a favorite passage from Nikos Kazantzakis’s great novel ZORBA THE GREEK:

“I remembered one morning when I discovered a cocoon in the bark of a tree, just as the butterfly was making a hole in its case and preparing to come out. I waited a while, but it was too long appearing and I was impatient. I bent over it and breathed on it to warm it. I warmed it as quickly as I could and the miracle began to happen before my eyes, faster than life. The case opened, the butterfly started slowly crawling out and I shall never forget my horror when I saw how its wings were folded back and crumpled; the wretched butterfly tried with its whole trembling body to unfold them. Bending over it, I tried to help it with my breath. In vain. It needed to be hatched out patiently and the unfolding of the wings should be a gradual process in the sun. Now it was too late. My breath had forced the butterfly to appear, all crumpled, before its time. It struggled desperately and, a few seconds later, died in the palm of my hand.

That little body is, I do believe, the greatest weight I have on my conscience. For I realize today that it is a mortal sin to violate the great laws of nature. We should not hurry, we should not be impatient, but we should confidently obey the eternal rhythm.

I sat on a rock to absorb this New Year’s thought. Ah, if only that little butterfly could always flutter before me to show me the way.”

We have a few more weeks of waiting until we get to enjoy the full glory of Spring, the abiding joy of Easter. Be patient, and enjoy the journey.