I could write blogs with story after story about the unique ways that God has used butterflies to encourage me over the past 2-3 years.
Don't worry, I won't. I'm just saying I could.
The other day was one of those times. I mentioned in an earlier blog that God has been teaching me that Joyful is something I am, not something I do. I've been thinking a lot about how Christ transforms us. (If you're really digging the butterfly thing, I could say that we go through a metamorphosis that can't be reversed. I could. But I won't. Oops. Too late.) 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us that "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come."
Along with that thought, I've also been thinking about the spiritual clothes we wear. We are clothed in righteousness (Isaiah 61:10). We get to put on Christ (Galatians 3:27), the new self (Ephesians 4:24), and compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience (Colossians 3:12-13). It seems that as new creations, we're privileged to wear a fancy new wardrobe.
But, some days, we wake up and nothing feels new. Without realizing it, maybe we've put on sadness, anger, impatience, bitterness, pride, or shame, and things feel a little "off." Peace and joy seem disrupted and distant. I've had some days like that this month, and I'm learning to remind myself in those times that those clothes don't belong to me anymore. They simply don't fit and they'll never be comfortable again. There's a reason things feel "off."
In those moments, when I'm aware that the clothes I'm wearing aren't flattering the new creation that I am, I have choices. I can pretend they fit, I can ignore my discomfort, or I can ask God to help me put on my new clothes. I'm realizing that I've spent a lot of time doing the first two things, instead of enjoying the privileges of God's grace with the third.
So, yeah, I was thinking about all these things while I was on the beach the other day and I came across a beautiful clam shell, opened like a butterfly. I haven't seen one like it on our section of the beach before or after. I picked it up, encouraged that God sees me as the new creation I was made to be.
P.S. We had a fun Thanksgiving here in Cape Town, and, the next day we surprised our teammate Maria with a fully decorated tree! It was a little bit of home for all of us. This weekend, our squad will go through some restructuring as new squad leaders are raised up and some teams are rearranged. Be praying for all of us as we adapt to whatever new changes come our way!
P.P.S. This year, I had entirely forgotten about my family's traditional German Christmas stollen… until I saw one in a bakery. All of a sudden, I was tearing up. ("The World Race: You'll Be Melancholy Over Baked Goods") This morning, my teammate Tiffany surprised me with homemade stollen!!! It was a super-great surprise and a little taste of Christmas at home. Thanks, Tiff!
P.P.P.S. (<–okay, that's getting ridiculous) This might be my last blog for a little while as we head into Mozambique next week and I'm unsure about how available the internet will be. Thank you for all your prayers!!!
Cold Shower & Coke Count: 18 & 7
(Lukewarm Shower & Coke Count: hmmmm, like, 35 & 7)
