Just a few weeks ago we enjoyed a wonderful visit with fellow believers in Chattanooga. These new friends took us into their hearts and homes. They shared with us the deep joy we feel in remembering the many years our Lord allowed us to serve Him in Nigeria and Niger.

Over those years we often rejoiced with those discovering and growing into the life that Jesus brings–life filled with adventure, discovery and abounding joy.

Our hostess took us to the Chattanooga Aquarium one afternoon, where we stared at an unbelievable variety of water creatures–an absolute testimony to the genius of our Maker. We were amazed at such individuality, at their particular beauty and humor.

However, for me, the highlight was the butterfly pavilion. It was definitely tropical, warm and humid. Lively, beautiful butterflies were flying freely everywhere around us. Their colors, their shapes, the sizes became individual psalms of praise that mesmerized me with wonder. Then, one delicate, small, lovely creature lit on my finger. That moment spoke God’s worthiness to me, profoundly whispering our Creator’s Love. And yet, that moment was less monumental than the continuous, the breathtaking dancing through the air all around us of big, luminescent blue, luxurious butterflies.

Out of this precious, this quietly overwhelming experience God was reminding me of the fundamental truth of His hands on me shaping and reshaping until I am His new creation–all glory to Him.

Elemental Moments

Occasionally
There come
Those elemental
Moments
When as it were
A butterfly
Alights upon
My finger
For one instant
And my day
Is transformed
As Heaven
Flashes
Like lightning
Across my mind–
The mysterious
Reality
Of God’s Love
And a bit
Of worldly weariness
And dirt
Upon my soul
Is washed away.

Messiah’s Own

            

These regal blue butterflies beguiled my heart
With joy even richer than all the others truly
Beautiful (. . . one blessing my spirit alighting
On my finger held up in holy invitation, her
Instantaneous velvety touch a singular gift
From our maker . . .) all these sprightly dancers
Inspiring my heart to praise Him who makes
All things new indeed most miraculously
My dry and crusty heart at His touch emerging
Like some metamorphosis resurrection–
I will name these glorious blues Messiah’s Own
For underneath their heavenly upper wings
Their undersides are richly painted
Brown exquisitely reflecting the earth.

M.S.
April 12, 2019

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.
The old has passed away;
behold, the new has come.