Waiting To Fly

 

My friend at ABAHM recently posted the most amazing photos.

Which is not anything new and unusual for Jenny really. Lots of her pictures are amazing.
She often shares her love of nature; sunsets, seaside balconey views, flowers and garden vegetables.

Although I must say, my all time favorite posted photo of hers isn't about nature.
But it is definitely one depicting God's Special Creation!
Her own wedding photo! She looks just like it. Still. After I forget how many years!!!
Amazing! She is always sweetly beautiful with a smile like sunshine!
Her love for God and her family are all over her face and blog!

Jenny and her youngest son David, "captured"  a monarch butterfly escaping its cocoon with snapshots and a video. Go ahead. Check 'em out here if ya haven't already. And you'll see amazing.

yes. amazing. it is a fav word for me right now. so pardon the endless repeating of it...till it's out of my system.
It was fascinating to watch that butterfly fighting to get out.

you know what they say, "freedom is not free."
and i know that it's not. even though i don't always know what that means. or what that looks like.
I saw fighting. Fighting for freedom.
Fighting for freedom from the bondage of its cocoon.
Its "safe" cocoon.
Enabled by the Creator to escape.
Bit by bit. Little by little. A process.
Till it was completely...free.

I didn't know until I read Jenny's post that the butterfly doesn't, it can't, fly right away.

Its body is too big.
Too cumbersome.
It's just not ready.

Its wings are too little.
Too weak.
It's just not ready.

It needs time.
Time to wait.
Time to wait in the sun.
A process.
That can't be rushed.


And in the waiting it finds much, much less of itself as so important. its body shrinking to a new, smaller size.

And in the waiting it finds strength. Strength and the ability to fly.
Its wings stretching and growing larger.
Enabled by the Creator.As it waits. And prepares. To fly.

Amazing.

amazing hope.
Amazing.

amazing grace.
Remembering... that while I'm not flying today
it's just a place
a stage
a middle
with purpose.

worm? larva? caterpillar? chrysalis or cocoon?newly emerged lepidopteran insect?
i'm not sure which.
(i think that i like bug words. amazing.)
But I know
I am to-die-for-valued.waiting in The Son
 


to do what He created me to do.

I am waiting to FLY!!!





"Hast thou not known?
Hast thou not heard,
that the everlasting God, the Lord,
the Creator of the ends of the earth,
fainteth not, neither is weary?"
"He giveth power to the faint;
and to them that have no might he increaseth strength...
They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength;they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run, and not be weary;
and they shall walk, and not faint."
Is. 40:31

{Notes to Self About Dos and Don'ts}

Do attend nearby smalltown Mission Aviation Fest.

Do fill out the doorprize card thingy.

Do keep saying that you never win anything anyway
because that's really working for winning!!!

( yes! look what The Farmer won! )


( the soccer ball. not the plane. )
Don't evereverever take a digital camera with a full memory card to an event.

Don't evereverever think to yourself that you'll just delete as you go to make room for the most important new pictures.
Do listen to amazing stories by gifted speakers.

Like Russ Stendal, missionary aviator held hostage by guerillas.

 

And Steve Saint, also a missionary aviator, author of "End of The Spear."

  

Do take photos of interested children.


Do take photos of uninterested child.


Do laugh a.l.o.t. with The Farmer about how familiar it all looks and feels.

Don't evereverever take a digital camera with a full memory card to an event.

Don't evereverever think to yourself that you'll just delete as you go to make room for the most important new pictures.

Do attempt an effort at maintaining "Nonchalant Game Face"
while your inner gymnast turns cartwheels
when college recruiters say the same things you've been saying
only waaaay better and your boys are listening!!!

Do your best with what you have to do now, in middle and high school,
and listen to His voice as you pursue your talents, interests and Him! 


Do hog the flight simulator when there isn't a line.

Don't evereverever take a digital camera with a full memory card to an event.

Don't evereverever think to yourself that you'll just delete as you go to make room for the most important new pictures.

Do enjoy all the fun kids activities
and celebrate your teenagers cool enough to not have to prove it!(at least somedays.sometimes.)

Do get almost matching Father and Son tattoos.

Do laugh and tell amused observers that it didn't even hurt.

Don't evereverever take a digital camera with a full memory card to an event.

Don't evereverever think to yourself that you'll just delete as you go to make room for the most important new pictures.

Do take an opportunity to meet Steve Saint and his wife
when it presents itself right in front of one's self.


Do casually mention with a waved hand at one's own boys that they opted out of introductions.

Do watch Steve Saint respond by literally running over to said boys, grabbing their shoulders and scaring the tar out of 'em.

Do take candid shots of one's own now sheepish boys as they converse with Mr. Saint.
Don't evereverever take a digital camera with a full memory card to an event.

Don't evereverever think to yourself that you'll just delete as you go to make room for the most important new pictures.
Sigh.

Do try to appreciate the frozen posed snapshots that you now have because sob your brain didn't work in a cramp.

And one more thing,
just remember...

Don't evereverever take a digital camera with a full memory card to an event.
Don't evereverever think to yourself that you'll just delete as you go to make room for the most important new pictures.

Any questions?