All caterpillars metamorphosize; but into what?

I was reading an article today that addresses the question: Do all caterpillars become butterflies? I guess I kind of 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 seemed to me quite a frightening thought! If I was a caterpillar I would definitely want to become a butterfly. If, by fateful decree, it was not my destiny to become a Butterfly, I would be strongly inclined to remain in caterpillar form. Unfortunately, it seems that, caterpillars don’t have that choice. Reading further, the author of this article pointed out that there are many types of insects which go through a metamorphosis. An incomplete metamorphosis might be compared to a child becoming an adult. There are definitely differences in appearance but not usually drastic differences from childhood to adulthood. On the other hand, a complete metamorphosis is exhibited by extreme changes taking place in the interim between youth and maturity. Obviously, the complete metamorphosis is the one that takes place in the transformation of a caterpillar Both butterflies and moths are a result of this process but one is very beautiful and one is…well…not so much.

Now to 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, and then finally, we arrive into adulthood, fully formed and mature (at least physically). This, I suggest, is the Incomplete Metamorphosis. Of course in one sense, all of these phases we go through are very radical, yet we still carry with us the same basic structure and functionality, in varying levels of effectiveness, from one phase to another all the way from birth to death.

The other type, that of the complete metamorphosis, begins–I think–sometime during the human growth cycle, probably during the teenage years and continuing when we reach adulthood. Maybe this 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. It’s probably all the same to them whichever way they go. 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 cheerfully soaring through the sky until we land softly on the delicate, leafy green branch of a beautiful tree. Or of course, it could be something else for each person; something else wonderful that you imagine in your own mind.

Whatever it is, the thing it is NOT, is 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. That would be the life of the moth (like the ones you see in your garage in late spring when you turn on the light). I don’t think that’s what any of us wants.

Unlike the caterpillar, I think we have the option to transform into the 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 work on it too and listen to His voice. Trust in God and follow Jesus. He’ll transform your life; not into the the plain and hopeless moth but into that splendid creature we know as the Butterfly.