The Butterfly Never Moved

The butterfly never moved. I had to quickly sidestep the orange-winged butterfly resting on the sidewalk. "I could have smashed the poor creature," I thought, but she didn't seem at all that concerned as she continued to soak in the afternoon sun.

And then I was no longer thinking of butterflies but of people. This quotation floated to the front of my mind:

"Even if you are on the right track, you
will get run over, if you just sit there."

Was this butterfly symbolic of the many persons who start out on the right track but later come to rest in the middle of the road? Do we realize the danger we are in when we sit comfortably in the middle of the road of life?

The butterfly had a way out of danger -- she could use her wings to fly away to safety. Those wings were God's gift to her, but they were useful only if they were used. God alsoo gives each of us gifts to be used to sustain life but these gifts also are only good if used.

Many years ago when Clyde Weaver was Marketing Director for The Brethren Press, he would stand before Annual Conference promoting new books he hoped we would buy and read. He would often conclude: "Those who don't read are no better off than those who can't."

You and I are blessed to live in a time and place where the Bible is readily available to us; but if we don't read our Bible, we are no better off than those who do not have access to the Bible.

Your and I are blessed to live in a country to which our ancestors came to find freedom to worship freely; but if we don't take advantage of this freedom of worship, we are no better off than those who don't have this freedom.

You and I are blessed to have heard the Gospel message of God's love and grace; but if our lives do not reflect that love and grace, we are no better off than those who have not yet heard the Gospel.

I returned to the butterfly's resting place. She was gone. I want to believe she used her wings and was led by God to a place of safety. And I want to believe that all God's people will make use of their God-given gifts as they are led by God to soar with the butterflies.

Herman