Butterflies and Caterpillars

I came across this quote today and it struck me as a beautiful description of how God works in our lives. He brings about radical change in us so that we can become people who reflect God’s glory in all our being. These soul deep changes do not come about easily; in most cases it is through suffering and grappling with life’s challenges that God draws us closer to Himself and in the process strips away our outward cocoon that keeps the real God filled soul hidden. Personally, I would rather endure the purification process and become a “butterfly” than remain a “dull and grovelling caterpillar.”

Here is the quote:

“The Greek name for a butterfly is Psyche, and the same word means the soul. There is no illustration of the immortality of the soul so striking and beautiful as the butterfly, bursting on brilliant wings from the tomb in
which it has lain, after a dull, grovelling, caterpillar existence, to flutter in the blaze of day and feed on the most fragrant and delicate productions of the spring. Psyche, then, is the human soul, which is purified by sufferings and misfortunes, and is thus prepared for the enjoyment of true and pure happiness.”
“The Age of Fable” by Thomas Bulfinch (1796-1867)