Once upon a time,
in a far away land, the most beautiful butterfly garden in all creation
grew. There lived a majestic, ornate butterfly that was known as “Butzy
the Butterfly.”
As
Butzy flew over the ostentatious garden, he proudly stretched out
his large wings as though he was a colorful canopy dancing in the
sky. His wings were bright orange and, decorated with dark velvety
spots. In Butzy’s prideful view of himself he believed he was
the most magnificent butterfly in the garden and as he flew from flower
to flower he spread his wings flamboyantly for all to see. Then as
time passed everyone grew tired of his bragging including the council
of butterflies that governed the garden.
The fragrant valley
below him was in a buzz with irritation. So a meeting was called under
the large sycamore tree by the council of butterflies.. Butterflies
from the entire region gathered to discuss Butzy’s prideful
passion of love for himself. “It is not right”, said the
oldest butterfly in the garden. “Butzy is showing off his splendor
and making us all look as insignificant caterpillars. We must do something
to put him in his place.”
Then after much
discussion the butterfly council came up with a plan. A way to teach
Butzy a lesson he would not forget. So they began to implicate a way
to knock some sense into Butzy’s head. This tangible lesson
would reveal to Butzy that he was not the only beautiful butterfly
in the garden. So they formulated the plot and put their strength
together to set a trap for Butzy.
But there was
one flying companion that had a difference of opinion and he was a
plain
ordinary moth. He was known in the garden as Motzy the Moth. No one
looked at him with any sense of value or purpose since he was just
the plain cream mellow-yellow moth. But Motzy looked at Butzy differently,
he saw him as someone who was hiding his broken heart behind the majestic
wings he wore.
One by one the
council of the butterflies pulled there wings back and grasped on
the stem of an old dandelion with their feet. Together they pulled
on the dandelion locking its stem to a twig and planted the largest
flower from the garden in front of the trap. They all agreed not to
touch the nectar of this baited flower; they wanted it to drip its
sweet nectar to entice Butzy to their trap.
Butzy unaware
of the council’s plan saw the sweet seducing nectar dripping
from the bright majestic morning glory flower. He glided over the
bountiful feast; arrogantly convincing himself he deserved it. The
council snickered as they hid behind the dandelions waiting for their
unsuspecting victim. “Soon Butzy will learn his lesson,”
one of the council members whispered as they waited to release the
weapon of vindication that was set to spring like a rubber band.
As Butzy saw the
sweet morning glory (baited by jealousy) he began to make his approach.
He pulled back his golden wings and flexed his purple chest preparing
for landing. His feet protruded making his aim for the morning glory.
He gracefully landed
on his sweet meal when all of a sudden to his amazement the trap was
sprung. The dandelion jolted like a wild coil in search for its victim.
Bingo it hit, right on the mark. Butzy was spun around like a ferris
wheel in an amusement park and was hit on his head. The vindictive
blow knocked him off his summer delight meal. But the force had been
too hard and had not only knocked Butzy off his feet but also cut
off one of his majestic wings. There was Butzy lying on the ground
dismantled from his glory. A prank had been carried too far. And what
was meant to be a lesson now had caused harm.
Poor Butzy lay
disfigured as he tried to raise his head. He managed to push himself
up and then he saw his wing lying beside him. “Oh my beautiful
wing,” Butzy shouted, “my beautiful majestic wing it has
been torn from me. I will never be the same. I was the most handsome
butterfly in the garden and now I am only a relic of a freak.”
The council stared with unbelief. “What happened?” One
of the members shouted, “his prank went too far. The dandelion
was supposed to hit Butzy on the head but never was it meant to cut
off his wing; What have we done?”
Just then Motzy
the Moth came fluttering by to see what all the commotion was about.
And there lying on the ground was Butzy the Butterfly who could no
longer fly. Despair had set in and Butzy’s pride had been stripped
from him in one swift cut. “I will never fly again,” said
Butzy “and look at me I am only an insignificant insect, I just
want to die.” Motzy the Moth landed softly next to Butzy trying
to comfort him in his sorrow. “Don’t give up” Motzy
the Moth proclaimed. “Something good will come out of this.”
“Good?” Butzy screamed, “what good can ever come
out of this? I am a disfigured old butterfly and I will never be the
same. Nor will I ever be able to fly again.” “Well, perhaps
I can help you,” Motzy said trying to comfort his despondent
friend, “if you climb on my back I can fly real hard and carry
you up so you can see all the flowers from the garden again.”
“No” Butzy grunted. “You can’t do it. You’re
not big enough or majestic enough. I alone was the best in this garden
and no one can take my place.” “Let’s give it a
try” Motzy said softly, “let’s just try. Climb on
my back and hang on real tight.” Butzy looking perplexed and
disorientated said, “But your wings are plain and ordinary how
could they possibly hold me up?” “Don’t worry”
Motzy answered; “I will give it my best shot. You will soon
see.”
Reluctantly Butzy
climbed aboard hoping no one would see him. “If anyone sees
me flying with this moth the little reputation I have is ruined”
“Hold on tight”, Motzy instructed. “Were flying
high to see the garden”. “I am afraid”, said Butzy
“what if I fall? I cannot fly with only one wing.” “Don’t
worry,” Motzy reassured his reluctant passenger, “I won’t
let you fall.” “Ok, let’s fly,” Butzy said
in a shakey voice, “just take me high enough so others can see
my one beautiful wing.” “I will take you up as high as
you need to my friend, don’t you worry just enjoy the ride.”
Just
then as they glided across the garden Butzy began to lose his grip.
“I am slipping!” he shouted with a quivered voice. “I
am afraid, I don’t know if I can hang on.” “Its
ok” Motzy answered, “my wings are spread far enough to
keep you from falling. Only trust me, you need not be afraid.”
At that moment
Butzy no longer cared about his one remaining beautiful wing, nor
the reputation he had wanted to maintain. His arrogance was being
dealt with by seeing his own insignificance. He began to realize that
real strength did not come from him, but from the wings that were
beneath him.
It was then he
understood that to fly once again it was only going to be by the strength
of his friend. That real beauty was not who he was, but it was in
whom he began to trust in.
All of a sudden
Butzy looked at himself and others with new eyes. He took one good
look at Motzy, an ordinary moth, that no longer seem so ordinary.
He saw past Moty’s
outside appearance and discovered the true character of who he was,
a compassionate friend who stood next to him when all others had fled.
As he lay broken and feeling insignificant, Motzy lifted him up from
his despair and allowed him to soar over places he never thought he
could go again.
As the sun started
to dip behind the majestic mountain it brought a flare of orange rays
for the evening sunset, and Motzy asked Butzy if he could see clearly
the garden below him as he flew. Butzy overcome with repentance in
his heart for his vanity realized that he not only had a broken wing
but a broken heart that he tried to hide with his pride. Wrapped in
a blanket of love from his humble friend he turned and answered his
question. “Oh yes Motzy,” I can see. In fact I can see
even more than the flowers below me. I have come to realize that without
you in my life I really was not able to do anything of significance
and value from a pure heart. For my pride only took me to my fall.
But it was your love that lifted me from my desperation and grief
and now I can not only fly, but I can now see. For you my dear friend
is and always will be the most beautiful butterfly in the entire garden.
I flew with pride, but you flew with love. And it was you, who loved
me with a humble and gentle heart while I was harsh and prideful.
For now I not only call you my friend, but call you, “Motzy
the Moth, the only one deserving to be called, the most beautiful
butterfly in the entire garden but also in all of creation.”
I believe
that all of us can identify with Butzy in one way or another. Perhaps
we have depended on our strength and the talents that God has given
us. Yet when we take a good look at where we are without the one who
created us, we can see how far we can fall when we are on our own.
The
bible tells us that in earthly estimation there was no beauty or majesty
that would attract us to Him. Yet He was God who came in the flesh,
He lived among us in our own earthly garden showing us that He was
approachable and loved us. His miracles were a sign of His love and
compassion for man. His teaching astonished the highest scholars.
And as He gave his life on the cross, He broke the barriers of sin
so we may live with Him forever. It has been said and it is true,
nails did not hold Him on the cross…It was love.
Please pray
the prayer below and allow Him to carry you higher than you have ever
soared. And let Him touch the areas in your life that need to be healed
and mended. For all of us at times have lost hope in people or in
ourselves. But it is a promise, He will not disappoint you. After
all He made you.
With Love
and Blessings,
Evelyn
