All caterpillars metamorphosize; but into what?

I was reading an article today which addresses the question: Do all caterpillars become butterflies? I assumed that they all did, but that was not exactly true. This article (I’ll reference it here) was explaining that all caterpillars go through a metamorphosis, but only some of them become butterflies. Unfortunately, the others become moths. It seems a frightening thought! Obviously, if I was a caterpillar, I would want to become a butterfly. If I was destined to become a moth, I would be strongly inclined towards remaining a caterpillar! Unfortunately, it seems that caterpillars don’t have that option. Reading further, the author of this article sited other types of insects which go through various types of metamorphosis, but most of them experience what he called “incomplete” metamorphoses. The caterpillar, on the other hand, goes through a “complete” metamorphosis. Both butterflies and moths are a result of this process, but one is very beautiful, and the other is…well…something lesser.

Now, let’s delve a bit further into this phenomenon of incomplete vs. complete metamorphosis. I think, in a sense, we, as humans, experience both types. We come into the world as little babies, grow into children, blossom as teenagers, arrive into adulthood, and are fully formed and mature (at least physically). This, I suggest, is the Incomplete–or partial–Metamorphosis. Of course, all of these phases we go through are virtual lifetimes in themselves, and when we reach adulthood, we really have “completely” changed. And yet, we carry with us, the same basic structure and functionality from one phase to another. From birth to death, it is possible that we may remain “incomplete”.

The other type, that of the complete metamorphosis, can begin at any time within the span of a human life; probably during the teenage years (sometimes younger) and continuing as we enter into–and beyond– adulthood. This kind of change, however, would be more in the realm of a spiritual transformation.

Here’s one of the many differences between caterpillars and humans. Caterpillars don’t have a choice as to whether they transform into a moth or a Butterly, and for all we can tell, they really don’t care. But for us, as humans, we all care very much (maybe with a few exceptions) what happens to us and what kind of person we become. We wish to become butterflies; lovely, sunlit, and soaring cheerfully through the sky until we land softly on the delicate, leafy green, branch of a beautiful tree.

The thing we don’t want, is to be buzzing around in a dark place looking for any possible source of light, and being crunched by the sudden slap of the fly swatter, or zapped by the merciless electronic bug-killing device on the patio. This would be the life of the moth; far from the life (and death) we envisioned.

Happily, God has given people this wonderful opportunity to transform into a Butterly! Don’t get me wrong. We can’t do it on our own, but we can strive for it, pray for it and, most essentially, trust in God for it with our hearts. He needs to make that change in us, but we need to do our part as well by listening to His Voice and letting Him navigate the bumpy road we all experience in this life. We must Trust in God and follow Jesus! He’ll transform our lives; not into the bleak and hopeless life of the moth but into that splendid creature we know as the Butterfly.