Butterflies for Easter...

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV

Butterflies, whatever their  coloring - orange, yellow, blue, green, purple - are not mentioned in the Bible, but these delicate creations of God flitter in all parts of the world. While peoples of other beliefs consider the insect to be lucky, Christians see the butterfly symbolizing Christ’s resurrection. What once appeared dead is really alive. Easter.

Last year, I ordered, by phone, a small vase of cut flowers to be sent to a friend who was very ill. When I received a photo of the lovely arrangement of autumn flowers, I did a double take. Hovering above the orange, purple and yellow arrangement  was an artificial blue, yellow and black butterfly. I had not asked for such adornment; I didn’t even know such existed.

Perhaps, the clerk who took my order and filled it so beautifully knew the recipient and her love for these graceful living beings. I did. My friend, who died hours later, loved butterflies as much as she did her cats. These creatures were special to her. For years on United Methodist Women’s Sunday, she made butterflies for members to wear to acknowledge our participation in this missions program.

As I’ve shared this tale with others, a friend in Vienna, Austria, sent me a phrase etched in glass hanging in her living room. “It’s the END of the world,” says the Caterpillar. It’s just the BEGINNING,” says the butterfly. Easter.

I’ve long been aware that our giant bottlebrush with its red spiked blooms attracts butterflies to our backyard. But since the curious arrival of a butterfly in a flower arrangement, I have become aware of how many will rest on our second floor porch handrail for long minutes. It’s as if they’ve paused in their hunt for food to sit and visit for a spell. If I speak softly to them, they linger, flutter their wings as if they are listening to me, then responding.

Since childhood, all humanity has  been fascinated by these beautiful winged creations. We learn early on the four stages of this insect’s life cycle - egg, caterpillar, chrysalis and butterfly. Eric Carle, the author of more than 70 children’s books, caught the imagination of young and old with his rendition of The Very Hungry Caterpillar eating its way through apples, pears, plums…chocolate cake…Swiss cheese, salami…watermelon, an entire book, all part of the metamorphosis from green worm into a brilliantly multicolored butterfly.

Carle explained, “When I was a small boy, my father would take me on walks across meadows and through woods…he would show me the living things that scurried about. He’d tell me about the life cycle of this or that small creature…I think in my books I honor my father by writing about small, living things.”

Carle had difficulty finding a printer for this book because cutting holes in every page was expensive. Finally, a Japanese printer took on the task and over 55 million copies of this book has sold around the world. Its mere 224 words have been translated into more than 70 languages. The caterpillar, soon to be a butterfly, speaks to so many.

On the third day after Good Friday, we celebrate Easter proclaiming eternal life. However, let us also remember that the Son of God who chose to live on earth for 33 years, showed us how to live selflessly day by day during our own short life spans here on earth; it was a totally new way to live.

The butterfly joins other Easter symbols coming into new life - the egg, the lily bulb, the empty cross. What once was lifeless not only takes on new life, but also offers a new way to live. Easter.

2022