The Chrysalis Of Love

Two caterpillars strolled along on a warm summer evening when a shadow above slipped silently by. Looking up, they saw a beautiful butterfly in flight. One caterpillar turned to his friend and said "You'll never get me up in one of those things." Little did he know that he too, in his own time and place, would go through the passage of the chrysalis, which allows and requires him to soar and dance on the soft pillow of the wind.

This tale illustrates how we all grow and change. Seen or unseen, known or unknown, change works its magic and weaves its spell through the warp and woof of our life fabric. We each have a pair of secret wings which one day emerge, surprising no one but ourselves. This change, or transmutation, is the passage of the chrysalis of love.

We all resist change. No sooner are we comfortable and settled, than a cold wind blows through the nooks and crannies of our cozy way of life. Like our caterpillar friend, we become cocooned within the walls of our beliefs. A tiresome task, having to continually change what we believe!

No sooner are the facts sorted into a pretty house of cards than the hand of time tumbles it down again. It is nice and safe in the surety of one's mind. Cozy and familiar, it is similar to a well loved book, we know the contents of every page.

I wonder how a caterpillar feels as it changes. The dark pain of a seeming end, slowly giving way to the birth and freedom of new life. We can all relate to our little friend who perhaps believes she is under the power of a mighty and unknown force. Are we not the same? Darkness descends. The ground of our little universe shifts under our feet and we feel inundated. Large or small, fast or slow, rough or smooth, we all make the passage of the chrysalis of love.

"Transmutation" is a clumsy word. It does no justice to the dance of change. We are all scared of change to some degree. It is a journey into the unknown world of flight. Perhaps change is Ever-Loving-Kindness in disguise. I wonder if the wind of change is another name for the breath of God.

When the fledgling leaves the nest, momma bird gives her little one a push. As soon as it begins to fall, its ability to fly is awakened, and it flies. No need to think or ask. It just flies. We are the same.

When it is time for change, our inner nature is awakened by the same Loving Force that spins planets in the sky and moves thoughts through our minds. The magic and mystery of life is, that when it is time to move, we are moved. We must fly, as we make the passage of the chrysalis of love.

Even while the bird and butterfly glory in their flight, I wonder if they are ever afraid. Jonathan Livingston Seagull was, sometimes I am. How about you? I'm afraid of heights, even while I glory in the view! It is impossible not to feel, so it is impossible not to grow.

Is the word g-r-o-w another way to spell c-h-a-n-g-e? Air means breathing, sight means seeing, wings mean flying as we follow the passage of the chrysalis of love.

Love calls for that momma bird to bump her fledgling into independence. Love of air for wings causes eagles to glide on high. Love of water causes a fish to swim. Love calls mother earth into blossom every spring. Light gives us Life, and Love gives us Light. This is the passage of the chrysalis of love.

The secret wings we all possess one day unfold themselves. This is the moment of change. The flash of fear and light of understanding as the cocoon breaks. The slow, creaky spread of new wings.
Before you know it, you are "Up in one of those things."

 Next article...

 Previous article...

 The Articles Index...