06.25.09

Don’t Stomp the Caterpillars …

Posted in Judging Others at 5:25 pm by Sandi Rauwolf

I continue to be reminded of how important it is to look at the world thru the eyes of a child. Today while standing in line in Orlando, FL with 90 plus degree weather, Ty, Samantha and I looked down to see a caterpillar inching its way down the cement seemingly oblivious to the dangers around him. Samantha kneels down and says, “He’s so cute, Mommy! Come here little guy,” as she gently places her finger on the ground so he can crawl onto her hand. Ty and I looked at each other with an expression that all but said she thinks that is cute? It looked like an orange worm with black whiskers sticking out in every direction and more arms than it would ever need in its lifetime. I thought to myself, as much as I love God’s creatures this is not one I would call “cute”. At that exact time, Ty leaned in and said, “She thinks that is cute? I felt like maybe I was supposed to stomp on it.” Samantha oblivious to her brother’s comments says, “Can I bring him home as a pet?” I sat there looking at this less than attractive worm inching out of the palm of her hand and up her arm and thought, what does she see in this little creature? As soon as the thought cleared my mind, God said to me “that is what is wrong with the world, Sandi.”

“What do you mean?”

He said, “People so easily look at the outer appearance and form a judgment based on things they could not possibly foresee.”

“Please go on, I’m listening.”

He continued, “That little unattractive caterpillar will form into a beautiful butterfly but only if someone doesn’t stomp on it.”

My heart instantly saddened at that Truth. He went on, “See each and every living creature in this world is a creation of mine. I have a plan for each of them even what appears to be an ugly caterpillar – actually, the life of a caterpillar is very symbolic to the life of my children.” I thought, GENIUS – yes, it is! The world sees others who are different from them whether it is appearance, religion, skin color, etc. as ugly caterpillars when the Truth is that everyone starts as a caterpillar – no one is born a butterfly. But once we are transformed into a beautiful butterfly it seems all too easy to forget the caterpillar stage we were once in ourselves.

Each caterpillar will face something in his life bringing him into that dark cocoon. It may be challenges with friends, at work, serious health issues, divorce, addiction, loss of a loved one, etc. – each of us face that challenging time in our life. But, those dark times are the moments we are being transformed into something magnificent. We can’t always see past the darkness at the time but if we remain still and trust the plan for us, we will continue to grow within the darkness thru no effort of our own but thru strength that can only come with complete surrender. With that new found strength, we begin breaking away a piece at a time of that shell which surrounds us until we begin to see light. The fight is not easy but once we can see even the smallest hint of light, a force within us brings the highest natural rush of adrenaline. It pushes us forward bringing strength to break away more and more of that shell which encompasses us until we are completely in the light, free of any constraints. As we emerge from that dark place that we worked so hard to break free from, we realize we have been given wings to fly over the earth as something beautiful. A Life we never thought possible.

If you are still in the caterpillar stage of your journey, I encourage you to see the beautiful butterfly God sees every time He looks at you. Please do NOT see an ugly caterpillar. EVERYONE is born to be a butterfly – EVERYONE. No caterpillar is too ugly, too lost or born to remain a caterpillar. Nor are we ever given a cocoon that is stronger than any strength within us allowing us to break free from it.

If you are already a butterfly, it may be difficult to comprehend that not long ago when you would look into the mirror, all you would see staring back was an ugly caterpillar so I encourage you please don’t forget what it felt like to be a caterpillar – that humbleness allows us to see each person around us as nothing less than a beautiful butterfly. It’s important because you know first-hand how incredible it feels to break free from a cocoon as a new creation experiencing a transformation so significant that it does not even seem possible and wouldn’t have been if someone had stomped on us.

Let us see the good and encourage one another no matter where we are today in our caterpillar journey knowing that we are ALL God’s children even those who seem less than “cute” in life right – they too some day will become a beautiful butterfly – so don’t stomp the caterpillars!

Love to you all!

Sandi Rauwolf
Author, Blessings Too Good
Written 06/15/09, Posted 06/25/09

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