I'm
always amazed at the simple things in life that make me think. The things that
get my mind centered in on the importance of living it and not being lived by
it.
Recently
my wife and I flew to Cape Coral, Florida to see our 2 precious grandchildren,
Jackson and Savannah and our two daughters Krisha and Melissa. We lived there
for 9 years, until a year ago when economic issues forced us to move back to Houston,
where my wife found employment. Leaving was a very emotional event for the both
of us, having to separate from all that we love and in dire and unfortunate circumstances.
Perhaps, like most things are in our life, it's related to the will of God. They
are hard things to understand to be sure, no matter the level of faith.
While there, and while working in Melissa's yard I noticed
a monarch butterfly stuck in a spider's web. Its wings were fluttering and it
was desperately attempting to extricate itself from the web. A spider web has
a greater tensile strength than steel of an equivalent weight. The wily spider
was hidden in some dark recess in the side of the house, waiting for its opportunity
to finish off the butterfly. The spider was in no particular hurry as it knew
that the butterfly couldn't escape and it would eventually tire and then the spider
would take care of its business.
I
stood back and watched the butterfly for a few minutes. Certain death awaited
it and its struggle to break free only entangled it all the more in the web.
As
I watched this struggle for freedom and the desire to live, it reminded me of
my own struggles and those that we all go through. Isn't it true we like the butterfly
get trapped in the web of life? The world we live in tells us to get ahead, be
successful, fame and fortune, make money and so forth. We talk about we don't
have time, while time keeps going, not caring knowing that its web has trapped
us all and as Solomon said, chance happens to all men.
We,
like that butterfly, want to break free. We get trapped and struggle to break
away only to find ourselves entangled more. After a while some give up the fight,
some give up the freedom, and some the vision. The Bible says that we are to run
the race set before us as to win but with patience as to gain an incorruptible
crown. It is something that doesn't fade away or corrupt within this web of time.
Sometimes
we need help. Others see our struggle and are aware of them, but yet pass on by
although they may have the capacity to help us break free. The web of time has
trapped them.
This
is the time of year around CHRISTMAS that our hearts seem to mellow and we start
to think about others. It is a time of gift giving be it in the form of a present,
a word of comfort, thankfulness and prayer. I'm reminded that the greatest gift
given was from Jesus Christ to us, our freedom from the web of time, the entanglements
of life, the Grace of God.
This
day, the spider would be denied. I walked over to the web and released the butterfly,
to fly again and to continue to spread its beauty to others.
I
hope this CHRISTMAS season will allow you as it did me to help release someone
or something to continue the race with hope, with vision, with new directions.
You will be all the better for it.
