Butterflies

I was thinking of butterflies as I was lying in bed last night (you know...as you do), and how the caterpillar's transformation into a butterfly in its cocoon is often used as an illustration of Christ's life in us- changing us ever more into His likeness. It's interesting too, to note that this change occurs within the cocoon- in secret, and its the same with us. Often the change that is happening on the inside and the work that He is accomplishing in and through us happens in small, subtle ways and in a deep and secret part of us- sometimes even we aren't aware of the change ourselves. But God is, and while this earthly life is very much like the cocoon and our body awfully restricted like the body of a caterpillar- he is able to see the butterfly that will emerge when the time is right, beautiful and free to take flight, if not in this earthly life- then in the eternal realm :-)