LESSONS FROM THE BUTTERFLY
Outward appearances are deceiving, so don't be too quick to
judge.
Take caterpillars, for instance. Some caterpillars are a
thing of beauty, but most of them aren't much to look at.
They crawl around like colored worms, they eat leaves for
breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and they have the personality of
a sea slug. How many people have invited you over to look at
their caterpillar collection? Few to none, I'll bet. When
God passed out good looks, he apparently skipped the
caterpillars.
After caterpillars mature, they spin a silken chrysalis around
their plump body, and they go into what seems like
hibernation. In the chrysalis stage, they're not much to look
at either. A chrysalis may represent outstanding
engineering, but as a thing of beauty it's an abject failure.
Their chrysalis condo is simply their crash pad while God
works the wonders of metamorphosis.
When the butterfly finally emerges from the chrysalis, a
miracle has happened. The former ugly duckling is now a
thing of beauty. Colors splash across its wings, and the
former slug like plant eater now enjoys the freedom of
flight. It spends the rest of its days flying from flower to
flower sucking up the nectar of life.
Everybody likes butterflies. These delicate flying palates of
color remind us how much God loves beautiful things. God
didn't have to make them beautiful. He could have made them
look like flying slugs; just attach drab wings to a
caterpillar's body, and the job is done.
Perhaps God made butterflies to teach us lessons about life
and make us more tolerant and less judgmental. We are all a
work in progress and although were not butterflies yet, we
can't become butterflies without first being caterpillars.
We've got to eat a lot of leaves and do a lot of growing
before we blossom into our final state. Just as you can't
judge a book by its cover, you can't judge a caterpillar by
its color. The caterpillar might not look like much now, but
when God gets done with it, it will become a creature of
splendor.
Judging people harshly in their caterpillar stage is a big
mistake. They are a work in progress, and what you see is not
the finished product. Right now, a person may not look like
much, but when God finishes working his miracle, a new person
painted by God's palette of love will emerge in awesome
beauty.
Don't be quick to judge yourself in a harsh manner either; you
also are a work in progress. Your caterpillar stage might not
seem like fun, but God knows what He is doing. You have to be
a caterpillar before you can become a butterfly; there is no
other way. God is working behind the scenes, taking care of
the details, and things are going to work out.
God has a dream for your life that is better than you can
imagine. When you get into agreement with His plan, there's
no limit to how good your life can become.
This Malachite butterfly
presents a stunning match to the surrounding foliage.
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THE RED SEA CHRONICLES - A
FIRST CLASS SAILING ADVENTURE
When Dr. Dave isn't working as a flying
Doctor for the Indian Health Service, he is sailing around the world
on his sailboat. Find out what it's like to sail on the ocean of
your dreams by watching Dr. Dave's DVD - The Red Sea Chronicles.
Put some positive adventure into your mind and push your life in a
positive direction.
Captain Dave and his family spent eleven years sailing around the
world on their Privilege 39 catamaran, Exit Only. During the trip,
the crew of Exit Only shot 200 hours of video with professional
cameras to show people what it's like to sail on a small boat around
the world.
The Red Sea Chronicles is a one hour and twenty-two minute
feature film showing their adventures as Exit Only sails through
Pirate Alley in the Gulf of Aden and up the Red Sea. The
professional footage documents their experiences in Oman, Yemen,
Eritrea, Sudan, Egypt, and the Suez Canal. It chronicles the rigors
of traveling in a remote section of the world rarely visited by
cruisers. Exit Only dodges Yemeni pirates, fights a gale and sand
storms in the Bab al Mandeb at the southern entrance to the Red
Sea. The crew explores deserted islands on the western shores of
the Red Sea, and learns to check the cruising guides for land mines
before venturing ashore.
The Red Sea Chronicles also has outstanding Special Features
that include an Instructional Video on
Storm Management that tells sailors how to deal with storms at
sea.
And
don't forget the two Music Videos: "The Red Sea Blues",
and "Captain - Save Our Souls".
The Red Sea Chronicles is a first class adventure that stokes the
sailing dreams of both experienced and wannabe sailors alike. Order
your copy of the Red Sea Chronicles and experience the adventures of
Exit Only as they sail around the world and up the Red Sea.
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