It's warmer than usual now. Most of my life in this cocoon, it has been pleasantly cool. Cool and dark. And comfortable, for the most part. Once in while I can feel my home sort of sway back and forth. Those are the times I feel afraid. I've never been able to understand what those occurrences are. Just when I become overwhelmed by fear, the movement will suddenly stop. Then everything is the same as before, cool and dark, nice and safe. I just know that my Creator has once again come to my rescue. Yes, I have a Creator and He loves me and keeps me safe in my little cocoon Or is it a big cocoon? Who's to know? Once in a while my Creator will speak to me. He has assured me that He has created me with special care and has placed me inside this wonderfully comfortable place that he calls a cocoon
I have concluded that He must love me very much to go to all the trouble to keep me safe. Sometimes I wonder what He is keeping me safe from. Who's to say? I figure if He is the Creator, then He must know all there is to know about me and my cocoon. Recently, however, I've had some troubling thoughts. I've had some questions, you know? Like, am I the only one in a cocoon? I know that I'm the only caterpillar in THIS cocoon, but are there other caterpillars in their own cocoons somewhere? I wonder what it would be like to be with another caterpillar It's those times when I feel most lonely. Don't get me wrong, I've always been happy with things as they are. It's just that recently I've had another question. I'm wondering what my purpose is. Why did the Creator create me to live in a cocoon, never to know anything else? Ah, there is another question: why do I wish to know anything else? Why aren't I happy just to live here in my nice, dark, and safe cocoon? What is wrong with me, don't I trust my Creator? (Sigh) Who's to say?
My cocoon is starting to feel smaller. I don't know if it has shrunk or if I have gotten bigger. I hardly have any room to move. I shift and I shift, and I still can't manage to get comfortable. And to make matters worse, the shaking and swaying is happening more frequently. Things feel so uncertain. Sometimes I fall asleep shaking with fear. Why doesn't the Creator make it stop? Where is He? I feel so alone! Then suddenly I hear his voice saying “Fear not, little one. Everything will be fine. You are just experiencing some turbulence because your life is about to change.” When I fearfully ask if my life is about to end, my Creator begins to laugh and says “Why no, for you've hardly begun to live!” He then goes on to explain. “Very shortly you will begin to see something new called light. Do not be afraid, for light is good, very good. Once you've grown used to the light, you'll never want to be in darkness again.”
“But kind Creator, darkness is all that I've ever known.” I meekly suggest. “That's alright”, his voice is so gentle. “It was merely preparation for the light. I've been hearing the questions of your heart, and now is the time to answer some of them.” His words seem to wrap themselves around me and I feel such love and comfort. “On the outside of your cocoon is a whole world you know nothing of. It was created for you and all other creatures to share and care for. When you leave this cocoon, and yes, you will leave, you will be transformed into a creature of great beauty and purpose.” I thought to myself He really heard my heart's cry! He continued. “On that day, you will have a new name; you will be called 'butterfly'. I asked him what that name meant and he laughed as he said “It's rather complicated, but it has something to do with flying.” I began to quiver and shake with fear at this new revelation. He spoke once more to say “Be not afraid, I will be with you even unto the end of the world.” Once again, I was alone in my cocoon All I could think was “When will this happen and what, oh what is 'flying'?
As I lay here pondering all the Creator has said, there is a violent shaking of my cocoon, like nothing I have ever felt. Now an amazing thing is happening. That thing called light is beginning to come in as my cocoon begins to crack. At first they are big rays pouring in through the cracks. They are so bright, I can hardly bear it. In a moment of panic, I realize that my cocoon is beginning to fall away from me and I am being enveloped by the light. I grasp something the cocoon has been attached to just in time, as my little home floats gently way from me. Then I feel the puffs of air that must have been what had swayed my cocoon These puffs of air are becoming a mighty force that swirls around me. My eyes begin to adjust to the light and I look down at myself with such astonishment. I can hardly believe it is me! Now I can feel the mighty wind push up under some new parts of me I didn't know I had. I ask myself “what is happening?” I let go of the branch as my new wings move with the wind. I know what this is!. I am flying!
Nice story.
Posted by: Mike Baldwin | August 13, 2009 at 01:05 PM