Testimony of a Butterfly

Yesterday was more than a full day! I picked up my self therapy partner at noon and drove her to one of her appointments across town. She had prepared a "Bug bungalow" with two Monarch butterflies about to make their debut in the miraculous transformation from voracious caterpillar to winged art. They hung batlike, upside down with developing wings folded across the fronts of their bodies, suspended from twigs with filament cords of their own making.

We picked up bulging pita sandwiches on the way and ate them on the cement benches in front of the building, watching as our dangling charges turned from opaque jade green to translucent olive, ever deeper, ever darker. Amazingly, God has chosen to gild these lovelies with a transverse line of brilliant gold toward the top and several golden buttons in the lower quadrant. The gold is bright and yellow, shining in the light, literally dazzling the observer. An insect form more lovely than any jewelry man could form.

After this appointment, we headed back across town for another, all the while anticipating the emergence of new life from the darker of our metomorphing pendants. We could see its unmistakable Monarch wing pattern as if through a dark beer bottle. Still, when my friend had finished her last appointment at half past five, the butterfly stayed put.

It was getting late and we needed to eat something before going to Giveback, so we headed to a place called Moe's Mexican Grill. The food was quite good, but the staff were not too concerned with customer service and were actually rude to my friend. Add to that the fact that we were late and tired and rushed.... it can all add up to a brain injury moment. I had mine after the Giveback meeting.

We had left early, but I forgot my planner, then had to go back and get it. By the time we did all that, we could just as well have stayed rather than disrupt everyone and my train of thought by leaving early.

Still no butterflies.

I was really tired by the time I got my friend back to her house and I imagine she was exhausted. At least I had had a chance to rest when she was in her various appointments. Next time, I will suggest we not cram so much in one day. I need to be fresher for Giveback and I need to be there the whole time.

When I finally got home it was after ten. I brought the budding butterflies home with me and Richard was enthralled by them, too. Still they shyly waited, holding back, reluctant to break free... so I readied for bed. Then just one more look before snuggling down for a well needed snooze, and lo!

A butterfly!

Compared to its confining cocoon, it is huge. It clings to its broken and now empty chrysalis with wings together and down as if they are too heavy to lift... and they are. The wings are inflated by a pool of blood stored in the abdomen and must "dry out" and become parchment firm before they will be of any use. If the butterfly is moved from its upside down pose, the wings will flop to one side dragging the insect with them. This is a very vulnerable time. By morning, the wings will be ready for a freedom flight.

By morning, I was greeted by the second butterfly. Both had coyly held their coming out parties in private. Nonetheless, seeing the before and after of these two stages of insect life was thrilling. How awesome is our God! How can anyone contemplate the beauty and intricacy of nature and think it all a great cosmic accident? Such complex design speaks clearly of a cogent designer. And if such a One created, He would also communicate with His creation... ergo, God! Nothing else make sense.

Here's what I did not see... the emergence of the Monarch: http://adver-net.com/Monemerg.html

Interesting Monarch facts:
Scientific genus and species: Danaus plexippus
Diet: Milkweed which causes all stages to be poisonous to preditors.
Monarch pass in Colorado was named for this lovely insect.
Monarchs are migratory.