Timing

"Mr. Fuzz"  copyright 2011, Caris Cerdwyn, All rights reserved.

"Timing is everything" they say.  And sometimes it is.  This little guy was moving fast in his field of clover.  Being born in a field of clover is a wonderful thing if you're a caterpillar, but there comes a time, and the time has come, when one needs to make a cocoon.  Time is passing quickly and autumn is a stone's throw away.  So I suspect Mr. Fuzz was rushing to find an appropriate spot to surround himself with that silky stuff of cocoons, readying himself for a long sleep and perhaps butterfly status come spring. 

There are times in our lives when we need to be aware of timing.  Times when we have to hurry toward the life that is waiting for us.  Times when enjoying clover is pretty much over, and perhaps we've lingered too long and we need to rush, to push through to find where we're supposed to be.  Those times are not easy on us, or on the people around us.  Leaving the familiar means gathering all of our resources together and pushing through our fear.  It means that some who are close will distance themselves from us, unaware of their own anger and pain in our leaving.  Others will push us out of their way so they can move on with their lives.  Still others will be very aware of their grief, pain spilling out, nearly drowning us in the emotion that accompanies leaving, and as much compassion as we have, we still know we must go, despite their pain, despite our own pain and fear, despite the chaos our going creates. 

Copyright 2011, Caris Cerdwyn, All rights reserved.

It takes courage and grace to find one's way to being a butterfly.  Saying goodbye to being a caterpillar.  Leaving the familiar.  Dying a kind of death so something new may emerge into glory.  Some never manage it.  Some get eaten on the way.  Some just can't let go into that death. And some never find the strength to emerge out of that long sleep and make their way into the world.  But of course, some do.

And that means "GLORY!"  However briefly butterflies live, their beauty never ceases to stop me in my tracks.  Their very being is a glorious prayer.