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Thoughts From The Box – “The Butterfly Affect”
As I was sitting in the parking lot waiting for the employee bus to arrive, something grabbed my attention. Was it a bird? Was it a plane? No, actually it was a beautiful butterfly. It swooped in and joined me inside the enclosed bus stop. Then, flying straight into a window, it was stunned by the fact it could not fly forward any farther!
The butterfly attached its feet (tarsus) to the glass and began crawling up, looking for a crack−freedom! Sadly, the butterfly was unsuccessful. For several minutes it flapped its wings, bumping its abdomen against the windowpane. “This butterfly is not smart at all,” I thought to myself. “Does it really think it can break through this thick glass?” After what appeared to be a serious workout by this delicate insect, it showed exhaustion. The tired butterfly rested for a few seconds, probably to figure out its next move because obviously bumping into the glass was not working in its favor. Suddenly, and surprisingly, the butterfly became very still. It brought its wings together above its abdomen and lay them down slowly towards the window. And then it happened! A calm, gentle breeze filled the air. The wind brushed against the butterfly’s wings and like a graceful rhyme the butterfly fell backwards into the hands of the wind floating into the direction of familiarity.
Have you ever been in a situation where you thought your vision was clear but you could not move forward? You could see the finish line but barricades continued to get in the way of reaching your destiny. “How do I know which way to go?” you asked yourself. For the butterfly the obstruction was a glass window but for you it is something else.
Yes, I have been in this position before. And at that point I was reminded of a powerful story in 1 Kings 19 starting at verse 11 where the spirit of the Lord tells Elijah to come out of the mountainside because the Lord’s presence was about to pass by. The Lord never told Elijah how he would show up; He just told him He would. In the beginning, Elijah encountered a mighty storm with strong winds right outside the cave entrance, but the Lord was not in the storm. Next, a powerful earthquake shook the mountain violently, but still the Lord could not be found in the earthquake. Then came a fire with raging flames rushing against the mountainside, and the Lord was not in the raging flames either.
Finally, a gentle whisper followed the fire and Elijah covered his face with his cloak because he knew he was now in the presence of the Almighty. Elijah had to become still and recognize this soft whisper. I do believe that the Lord could have shown up in all of those natural disasters but He came in a form of calm whisper, with which I believe He (the Lord) made the most noise.
As a good example for our situation look to the trial the butterfly had to endure. You know, it grasped something in two minutes that it takes us humans a lifetime to learn. After fighting tooth and nail trying to escape by its on power, it decided to be still and rely on a small whisper from the wind to soar to freedom!
My friends, I encourage you to recognize some of the manmade natural disasters in your life. These things might be daily distractions that prevent you from witnessing His presence. Just like the butterfly, I urge you to fall back into His hands. But first you must, “Be still and know/trust that (He) is God.” (Paraphrase Psalm 46:10)
Prayer,
God, continue to help me identity the distractions in my life-the things that prevent me and my family from seeking Your face daily. Help me to become still and have faith in You, and to fall gently into Your righteous hands. Thank You for allowing me to be covered by Your grace and mercy. Amen.
By
Damien K. H. Nash, CEO
TNG Publishings, LLC
Author of…
How to Load Your Truck: One Box at a Time
Big Box, Little Box: How One Little Box Finds His Way
About the Author
Damien K.H. Nash is the author of How to Load Your Truck: One Box at a Time and Big Box, Little Box. How to Load Your Truck was written for those who find themselves stuck behind the door of life. However, Nash explains how to unlock someones destiny by providing the 4 keys he learned while working at a parcel company. Damien Nash has an uncanny gift for showing how everyday processes, such as package delivery systems, can be used in meaningful stories, as in Big Box, Little Box. His heart for family values and character is the cornerstone of his writings. www.tngpublishings.com
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