Open Your Wings
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they me see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 (NIV)
When I was teaching, I remember the students’ uncontainable joy when the butterflies emerged from their chrysalis. Every single time brought tears to my eyes as we witnessed this miracle. Opening their own tiny wings was the single most difficult thing for them to do—and they had to do it alone. Helping them meant a sure death sentence. Allison Lynn Flemming (All God’s Creatures) tells us about insights gleaned from the blue morpho.
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The thick, warm air transported us to another world. Just minutes before, we’d be shivering in the winter chill. Not inside the glass dome, we were surrounded by tropical plants, waterfalls, and thousands of butterflies.
We were visiting the Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory in Niagara Falls, Canada. Signs encouraged us to identify as many of the flying wonders as possible. Feeding stations stocked with wedges of fruit attracted clusters of shimmering beauties—the perfect place to snap a few photos.
But the most peaceful part was wandering the curving pathways and feeling the gentle flights all around us. Butterflies of all sizes and colors drifted through the air. As I stood there, taking in the beauty, a blue morpho landed on my arm.
Blue morphos are striking! Their wingspan extends up to eight inches across, making them one of the largest butterflies in the world. But the most enchanting part is their coloring. When opened, their wings are an iridescent sky blue. They’re unashamed in their brightness and beauty. They just radiate light! But when closed, they disappear. Brown and gold markings on their closed wings allow them to camouflage perfectly with their natural surroundings.
The seemingly weightless butterfly had wandered down my arm and was not perched on the tips of my fingers. He lazily opened and closed his wings, revealing flashes of blue, then hiding them with walls of brown.
In that moment, I was reminded of being a Christian. Sometimes we want to close ourselves up and disappear. We hide our light so we can camouflage into the crowd. But Jesus asked us to let our light shine! God wants us to open our wings, show our colors, and bring His light into the world, just like the glorious, joy-giving blue morpho.
Butterflies are God’s confetti, thrown upon the earth in celebration of His love.
—Kristen D’Angelo
Gracious God, thank You for all the beauty You let see every day. Please do not let us close ourselves off from the world You have created. Let us joyfully share! AMEN.