A Living Invitation
By Rev. Pete Hyde
Behind the protective glass, they are lined up in rows on the ceiling of the structure. There are green ones, yellow ones and translucent white ones. It takes a moment or two to realize what they are. Then one begins to break open. Struggling against its self-made prison, the butterfly pulls itself out of the cocoon. Its wings are wet as it drops helplessly to the floor of the box, lying lifelessly for a few moments. As its wings begin to dry out they are laboriously lifted and then opened and closed slowly to begin the drying process. When open, the colors on the inside of the wings run from deep navy blue to a light iridescent, sky blue. When closed, the wings will offer perfect patterns of brown camouflage for its habitat.
The butterfly house keeper comes in and begins to gather the butterflies and place them in a lightweight carrier. They are transported to the butterfly atrium, filled with tropical plants. The pink, yellow, red and purple blooms fill the atrium with glorious color. The butterflies are released in a flurry of fluttering blue wings. Mixed with the multi-colored blooms and the morning sunshine, it was a glorious sight. There was nothing but beauty, color and the silence of butterfly wings. No photograph could have done it justice. . . .
Within the walls of the church they sit lined up in rows. There are dressed in many colors and come in all shapes and sizes. It only takes a few minutes to figure out who they are and why they are there. Then they break into song. As they get comfortable with the music, they struggle against the self-made individual prisons of their lives. Some will pull themselves out of their cocoons. Some will pull even further in to protect themselves from their fears. Others will begin to stretch their wings in response to the movement of the Spirit in their hearts and in the service. Some will open their wings to allow the colors of the Spirit to be seen by all. They are ready to fly. They are ready to hear and accept the call. They are ready to touch the world with their God-given glorious gifts. They are ready to meet the world into which God has placed them.
Another transformation awaits them. They will leave the earthly body behind and be gathered by God and transported to the place we call heaven. It will be a place beyond our wildest imaginations, even though we have tried so many ways to describe what it will be like. And yet, cannot know what Heaven is like because no one has ever come back to tell us about it. We will have to wait for our time to enter the place of beauty and peace and where there will be no more tears. “In an instant we will all be changed,” says the book of Revelation.
While we are waiting, we are called to draw others near to the beauty, love and peace of God through Jesus the Christ. We are called to be a living invitation to God’s kingdom. So don’t just wait around for your turn. Spread your wings. Let’s see how many we can get to go with us.
Rev. J. Pete Hyde, Senior Pastor, Santa Rosa Beach Community Church, 850-267-2599; srbcc.com
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