LESSONS ON TRANSFORMATION

Wing Tips!

"Never Been the Same"

“I’ve never been the same since . . .” Whenever I encounter someone who starts a sentence like that, I know they've been through something. They have usually been through some type of major transformation in their life – good or bad. I say that because true transformation is complete. You can’t go back to the person you were before and you will never be the same again.

To experience that type of permanent change, you have to have DETERMINATION and the STRENGTH required for TRUE and COMPLETE transformation.

Growth is a PROCESS. Transformation doesn’t happen overnight. It happens in STAGES. One of my favorite ways to talk about transformation is the caterpillar’s growth into an adult butterfly, because it represents upward movement and the change is so complete . . . and today I’m going to do that through a spiritual lens.

As a Christian, I understand that the Kingdom of God is in each of us. Well, it’s the same in our daily walk. There’s a butterfly waiting to get out of each caterpillar. The caterpillar was NEVER MEANT TO REMAIN A CATERPILLAR. It’s supposed to grow. It’s supposed to transform into a new thing, just like us.

So with that in mind, I want to focus on the stage of the caterpillar’s transformation that requires the most determination and strength – the chrysalis, which we more commonly refer to as the COCOON.

So here’s how it works. The caterpillar is climbing on a branch, ascending. I see that branch as representing God’s support, the Holy Spirit, and also the people He sends to support and surround us. Then the caterpillar seeks a SECURE LOCATION to transform.

Once the caterpillar finds a secure location, she attaches herself with SILK to additional support such as a leaf or a twig . . . so think about this, this is a very DELICATE place. NOW the caterpillar is ready for the final stage, which reveals the cocoon.

At this point, the cocoon is more STURDY and HARDENED and therefore can withstand. This is an important part of the growth process because the cocoon is FIXED in place and LARGELY DEFENSELESS against predators -- just like us. We are not in control and have to fully surrender to God for His protection while we’re growing.

This is why it’s SO important that we get to a spiritual and emotional safe place when we’re embarking on a major change.

In fact, most cocoons depend on disguise and CONCEALMENT while the caterpillar is inside -- just like we have to stay before God through our prayer and devotion time so He can protect and conceal us when we’re in the most vulnerable stage of our spiritual growth.

Once the cocoon gets situated in that secret place, it does an amazing job of blending in and is hidden by vegetation (life and growth). IT’S NOT MEANT TO BE SEEN DURING THIS TIME. Think about how sometimes during our own growth, God will remove us from our regular surroundings. He removes certain people and distractions. In a sense He hides us. He gets us to a place of stillness and quiet where we can just focus on our growth. It’s a very private stage of our transformation process.

When you read about this stage of the caterpillar’s metamorphosis in science books, it is described as “GRUESOME!” It’s often the same for us…during this stage, we are vulnerable, exposed, and doing a LOT of inside work. We might even feel alone and we might even RESIST the growth through self-sabotaging behaviors, and we have to fight off predators.

When the butterfly’s cocoon is disturbed during this stage in the process, it’s capable of making AUDIBLE SQUEAKS OR CHIRPS TO STARTLE THE ATTACKERS!! This made me think about how we have the resource of prayer, the opportunity to cry out to God . . . and that in doing so, we can STARTLE and confuse ANYTHING that comes against us while we are growing in our journey.

So that cocoon might be sedentary and might appear to just be hanging out, but there’s a LOT going on behind the scenes…..1 Corinthians 16:13 (NIV) says, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” That’s what we’re supposed to be doing during this time…STAND FIRM, be determined, stay strong, and keep our focus on the Lord and the work He is doing in us as we grow. God WANTS us to grow. He WANTS us to live the life of our dreams, to be happy and experience joy.

For the caterpillar, some scientists also describe this stage as “a radical reconstruction from one form to another” . . . “a RADICAL RECONSTRUCTION.” That means there’s no turning back . . . and it’s the same with our own growth and transformation.

The caterpillar’s tissues are COMPLETELY broken down inside that cocoon….thank GOD that He uses our times of growth to do the same…..to COMPLETELY BREAK US DOWN from the inside out and reconstruct us!!

Just like the caterpillar, OUR inner parts are completely reorganized.

And finally, at the same time when all of this is happening with the caterpillar, structures called “imaginal discs” begin growing RAPIDLY to produce the main body parts of an adult butterfly – the wings, legs and the head.

Once the INTERNAL TRANSFORMATION IS COMPLETE, then the outside darkens and the color and pattern of the butterfly that’s coming begins to show….I’ve actually seen this. It’s pretty amazing. So in comparison . . . once OUR internal transformation is complete, the GOD in us begins to show….and people can begin to see the changes in us.

This means the emergence of the adult butterfly is imminent….soon the cocoon will split open and the new butterfly will crawl out. Once free (like we are freed from our past), once free, the butterfly will hang on to the cocoon for a bit AND BEGIN TO PUMP hemolymph (hemolymph is the butterfly’s version of BLOOD) into the veins of its wings!! It’s THE BLOOD that causes the butterfly’s wings to expand rapidly!!

Within a few hours, the adult butterfly’s wings are fully expanded and hardened . . . and it is NOW ready to fly!!

One little tip I have learned about this stage of the caterpillar’s growth into a butterfly is that if you see a brand new butterfly struggling to free itself from the cocoon, you MUST resist the urge to help it. I know that’s hard, but it has to do its own internal work. Just like WE have to do our own work. That’s a very special, private time between God and the person who’s growing. In fact, in nature, if you help a butterfly out of the cocoon, it will still become a butterfly . . . but it will never be able to fly on its own.

I thank GOD for the transformations that have taken place in this room, and I pray that YOU too will have the determination and strength needed to complete your process, to reach whatever goal, whatever dream God has placed on your heart. You can do it. Just like the caterpillar, you can hang on, push through, and COMPLETELY change your life!

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“And be not conformed to this world; but be ye TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what IS that GOOD, and acceptable, and PERFECT will of God!” -- Romans 12:2 (KJV)

Wing Tips is a weekly e-mail from Dr. Knowles to keep you inspired and empowered to transform your life! For more information, visit MatteelSpeaks.com