Being in month 10 is a strange place to be. Home is drawing nearer, yet there is still ministry and people who need you to be fully present. How do I be fully present, but also begin to prepare my heart to embrace another major transition?
I pray.
I love that the one thing, the one person, I can depend on is Jesus. Despite all the changes, adjustments, moves, new relationships, and transitions, He always stays the same. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.” Hebrews 13:8
His patience with me is the same, his love for me is the same, his desire to spend time with me is the same, no matter where I am, or what I am doing. “The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.” Psalm 147:11
I definitely hope in his steadfast love. Not because someone told me to, but because I have seen it, I have experienced it.
Let me share how I experienced it yesterday.
Every so often we have a few days off to adventure around the country. This past weekend my new team and I decided to hop on a bus to travel 4 hours north to Monte Verde. This place is well known for its cloud forest, zip lining, bungee jumping, and various tropical animals. We zip lined on Saturday (which was amazing) and yesterday Ashlyn and I did something I had been longing to do for a while. We visited a butterfly garden!
I felt like a child again walking through the garden. There were dozens of butterflies floating around just barely missing our hands as we reached out, inviting them to touch us. At the end of our time, Ashlyn and I found ourselves alone in the garden that housed the Morpho butterfly. This butterfly is HUGE and has brilliantly blue wings that you can only see when they open up to fly.
With only a few minutes left before we had to leave to catch our bus, one of the butterflies landed on Ashlyn. We were so giddy with excitement. Ashlyn passed the butterfly to me and when it was on my finger all I could say was “it’s so beautiful!!!” I am slightly embarrassed to say that I was almost in tears as it sat on my figure gently opening and closing its wings. I think I was just in awe of its beauty and that it felt like I was safe enough to be around.
All in all, it was a great experience and I recommend everyone spend an hour or two hanging out with blue morphos.
This morning during a time of worship, I was reminded of my excitement over the butterfly and I felt God whisper, “That’s how I feel about you.”
Friends, that blows me away! It is hard to picture an almighty God being that in awe of my beauty, or that delighted by my presence. Yet, he is!
His love is steadfast, and he shows it in countless ways. For me, it was through a butterfly.
I may be in an interesting season of staying present while also preparing for the future; however, I find peace in knowing I am truly and deeply loved.
And you are too.
