Wings of Steel - part 2

Do you remember this story? I offered it almost a year ago as a reflection. I invite you to consider it again. 

A man found the cocoon of a butterfly and took it home. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could, and it could go no further. 

So, the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time. 

Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly. What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand is that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required to get through the tiny opening are God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings. It would then be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon. 

I share this with you again because we are now a little over a year into my time with you as your Interim Rector, and some of you have been concerned that the process is not moving quickly enough, but my point last year and again now is that we must trust the process and not try to rush the time of discernment.  This is a reminder that, sometimes, struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If God intervened in our lives every time we faced an obstacle, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as we might have been. We would never fly!  This is true for us as individuals and true for us as a community of faith. This interim period is somewhat like the struggle of the emerging butterfly from the cocoon.

You have done wonderful things this year as you faced challenges with determination and love. There is a renewed spirit at St. James that shows that you are emerging from the cocoon and almost ready to take flight. It might have felt as if nothing was happening this past year, but you have been making great progress in gaining wings of steel. Now, as you continue the discernment process, you can look back at the progress you have made and look forward to the call of a new rector who will partner with you on this new journey.

Just remember that over and over in the life of a parish there will be periods when we cocoon in safety and times when we must work to emerge and fly with strong wings, always guided by the Holy Spirit. Early in this interim period, the parish faced a number of changes. Some of these changes felt like losses, such as the transition of office staff and clergy, when familiar faces were replaced with new ones. Other changes have been due to the loss of loved ones who have died. We have mourned these losses and more.

But, you are resilient and you are strong. Ministries long dormant have re-emerged and are growing ever stronger. New ministries are coming into the life of the parish and giving new life to mission and ministry. More people are engaged in the work of ministry and leadership, which makes the parish a stronger place to worship, serve, and share. When you want to hurry up and force the process, remember the cocoon and butterfly; this last year has equipped you to engage in ministry and mission in new ways as you look forward to a future that builds on the gifts of those who have been part of this community. Now in this next phase, God invites us to look forward to what can be.

As a parish, you have done the initial hard work to break open the cocoon. That work of metamorphosis now allows this parish to fly on strong wings of steel. At times, you individually and all of us as a community will take a moment to rest from our work and to reflect on the future, and then we will re-engage and continue so that St. James emerges from this time of transition with grace and the ability to fly on beautiful wings of steel.

All you have done, and all you will do, is for the glory of God and to build God’s kingdom. It takes all of us working together to grow in faith, grow in wisdom, and grow in strength as a faith community.

May the desires of your heart come true, and may you experience God’s presence everyday as you work for God’s kingdom. May goodness, kindness, and mercy come your way. And may you gain wisdom and grow in your faith. 



Have a blessed week, Mother Pat+