Soaring Butterfly

Dear Brave Butterfly,

Hi friend!  I recently received a letter from a popular pastor Charles Stanley.  He writes about the power of transformation.

"...Colorful butterflies have begun to appear in our gardens.  I love photographing them.  They start out as unattractive caterpillars, slowly creeping and crawling low to the earth.  They are impeded by every rock and blade of grass, and they are in constant danger of attack by hungry birds.  Each will eventually struggle it's way up a tree, finding a leaf, and weaving a chrysalis.  Its life, up to this point, is characterized by toil, labor, and striving.

For weeks or even years, it may appear as if nothing is happening inside the cocoon.  Like the winter landscape - or the outside of Jesus' tomb - things seem lifeless and unchanging.  But beneath the surface, the most amazing transformation is taking place.  Ultimately, a stunning butterfly will emerge.  It doesn't have to crawl back down the tree or worry about being eaten by birds.  It can soar, and it will now be able to fly over anything that was once an impediment.

That's the kind of life God wants for every believer.  He doesn't want us to creep and crawl through life with toil, labor, and striving.  Rather, the Father wants us to soar by the power of the resurrection."