CHRISTIAN SENSE
BY TOM SMIKOSKI
A publication devoted to making sense out of the twenty-first century.
COCOON
By: TOM SMIKOSKI (based on an old story we have all
heard).
The young boy was excited when he found the newly formed cocoon on a branch
a small tree in his backyard. He very carefully cut off that portion of
the branch and carried it to school. His teacher placed the cocoon in an
aquarium where the temperature and humidity would be just right for the
emergence of the soon to be butterfly.
Every day they would check the cocoon for change. Finally they saw movement.
The entire class surrounded the aquarium. They watched in wide eyed
anticipation as the movement continued. The cocoon seemed to stretch as
the butterfly used her wings in an effort to free herself.
The teacher, not wanting the children to miss the blessed event, took a
razor and very carefully loosened the fabric, making it easier for the
butterfly to free herself. Soon the wings became visible as they pushed
through the weakened fabric. The room was filled with oohs and aaahs and
finally cheers as the butterfly broke free.
The butterfly attempted to spread its wings but couldn't. They weren't
strong enough. The teacher lessened the struggle when he weakened the
fabric. The butterfly needed to struggle against the fabric to free
itself. It is this struggle which causes blood to flow to the outer
edges of the wings. It is this struggle which strengthens the wings.
It is the struggle which prepares the butterfly for life outside the
cocoon. By depriving the butterfly of the struggle the teacher reduced
her chance for survival. Soon the poor butterfly would die.
Life is full of struggles. It's full of pain, discomfort, disappointments,
trial and tribulations. So often we cry out to God, begging Him to remove
these trials, the pain. We pray that He will lessen the struggles. We
seek an easier way. That is our nature. That's our desire.
Yet, the easy way may not be best. These pains, struggles, discomforts
and disappointments may be God's way of strengthening us. He may be trying
to condition us. Trying to purify us. Trying to teach us. Just like that
butterfly needed to struggle to survive so might we need to struggle.
Don't ask for relief. Ask for strength. Ask for wisdom. Ask for
understanding. Then and only then can we face our struggles as God would
have us face them.
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