Enigma of the Butterfly

                It is truly a wondrous sight to see the glorious transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly.  The fellow who takes its steps inch by inch settles in a homemade chrysalis for an extended drought of daylight and a lack fresh air on its face, only to emerge as an amazing, enigmatic being.  This transformation, this alleged enlightenment, is a journey yet to be understood.

                The caterpillar shuts the sunshine out from its world as it hides itself away in a dark, protective shell.  Once safely locked away, the caterpillar’s organs and body parts melt into a viscous soup.  It falls into a somnolent sleep for several weeks.   The days go by.  The sun rises and sets. The birds sing morning melodies and the geckos snack on unfortunate mosquitoes at dusk.  Forest animals scurry on the earthen floor and find shelter when it the tropical rains come.  As soon as the forest quiets down with the occasional drip of water plopping into a puddle, naive animals poke their heads out of their dry homes to see if the sky has cleared.  As normal life proceeds on, nobody stops to view the inconspicuous chrysalis.  Inside, a morphing, newfound life is preparing to open its eyes and find its place in the world.  As it comes nearer to “waking up,” the cells inside it grow to create the unmistakable characteristics of an adult butterfly. Wings begin to form, legs grow sturdy, and a very small head takes its shape. The chrysalis begins to split open on the magical day that the young butterfly will take its first flight.

                I had the astonishing opportunity to wake up one morning find a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis. It ended its process of metamorphosis and has become a fully formed butterfly.  Its wings are limp and moist from being enclosed for several weeks, and begin to spread out its limbs, forcefully pumping blood through its veins. The young butterfly jumped off the chrysalis, and faltered for just a second before remembering the use of its wings.  It fluttered away through the sunlight. Dancing dust fairies made the sun rays shine with a mystical touch, and the butterfly disappeared into the dense foliage.