The Path of Hope


A Girl Scout in the neighborhood arranged a big project for this past Saturday. It was “Chalk it Up” day, and everyone was told to get ready. On this particular Saturday, every home found a supply of sidewalk chalk placed on their drive. Everyone was asked to show their artistic side and encourage one another with hopeful words. There was a high level of participation by both children and adults of all ages. Everyone wanted to support this enterprising young woman. But I also believe everyone missed those early days of the pandemic when the kids were so prolific in sharing their art. It was a beautiful day that was made even more beautiful by the vision of one young person.
Though quickly faded by the sprinklers, I loved this image of butterfly and bee. I don’t know what was in the mind of the artist, but to me this was a most hopeful message that needed no words to share good news.
The butterfly has long been a symbol of new life. Seemingly dead in a hard chrysalis, what goes in a caterpillar emerges a beautiful, colorful butterfly. For my religion, it represents the resurrection of Jesus from the dead; the proclamation that not even the tomb could stop the power of God’s love. The butterfly is a symbol of transformation from one stage of a life to another. What a beautiful expression of the hope that we can emerge on the other side of difficult, even terrible, things and find a new beginning.
The bee has had a lot of press lately as humans take notice of its decline in number. This tiny creature pollinates the world. Our essential food supply, the beauty of the flowers and the perpetuation of fruit trees all depend to some degree on this small, hard working insect. What a joy to watch them at work and, greater still, to enjoy the fruits of their constant labor. I like the reminder that my little role in the world is part of something bigger and that, now matter I may feel in the moment, it matters to someone that I keep going.
The Psalmist writes, “As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.” Hope comes to is in different ways. On this day, hope came through the vision a young woman I do not know, who inspired an artist I’ve never met, who unknowingly placed a bee and a butterfly in my path. I think I got the message.
Peace.


 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

God is at Work

Image
In the early morning I was struck with this image. It seems to have it all. Green leaves. Red leaves. Clouds. Blue sky. The cross high and lifted up to the sky. It seemed to me that there was the stuff of several good photos in this one place and at one time. So I took the picture. Life is like that more often than not, isn't it? Good and bad. Happy and sad. Calm and chaos. Peace and turmoil. The season of Advent and the celebration of Christmas acknowledges this reality. The people of old resigned to their fate, yet hoping in the future. John the Baptist bringing the good news that the time had come, yet thundering away at one and all. Mary afraid, yet faithful. A baby is born that changes everything, yet the world remains still weary and violent. But, in the midst of all this, in the midst of the whiplash of everyday life, God is at work. God is present. God is calling. In all of it. In every bit of it. Through it all, God is with us. During these holidays, when joy can be mixed ...
Read more

Home

Image
  I came across this interesting tree the other morning. I was immediately transported back to my childhood and one of my favorite boyhood books, “My Side of the Mountain”. It was about a boy who went off by himself to live in the woods and to find everything he needed provided by nature. I don’t recall how many times I read that book in my elementary school years, but it was plenty. As I recall, he made his home in a tree that had a natural door, much like this one. I dreamed of following in his footsteps and doing the same in the woods behind my house. I never did. Home comes in all kinds of versions. Opulent mansions. Simple cabins. Modest middle-sized houses. Some people have the amazing ability to create home even when they are without a physical home. There are heroes who keep family together through tough transitions and the hardest of times. They commit to staying connected. They love one another. They are accountable to each other as they lift up the heart of what it means...
Read more

Loving Embrace by Barry Hughes

Image
One of the joys of walking each day is passing my neighbors. I may not know their names, but I feel I know many of them from our shared walks. I have names for them in my head, based on the dogs they walk or at what place on my route I usually pass them each day. I am amazed at how many people seem to be creatures of habit, like myself, walking the same course at the same time every day. I must admit that I do wonder, from time to time, what name they have given me as they pass me every day. On occasion, I see people who are new to me. On this morning I came upon the scene of a woman leaving a house for her walk. Suddenly, two small boys rushed out, barefoot and dressed in pajamas, urging her to wait. She stopped and turned, and with beatific smile embraced both boys and shared a few joyful moments with each. It was a touching and heartwarming sight. I imagined that the woman is grandmother to the boys. She is here visiting and these boys awoke as she walked out the door. They did not ...
Read more