The Caterpillar and the Spider

The book of Ecclesiastes about life and its meaningless nuances is one of the dearest to my heart. I was reminded of it as I arrived early one morning to work this week.

I was scurrying around getting a few things accomplished while the halls were still serene and the building still glowed in the early morning sun. I paused for a brief moment as I saw a dewy spider web apparently formed overnight. I noticed the intricate detail this spider had tended to ... The outside was seamlessly designed with perfectly symmetrical lines creating its width. It had lines draped between man-made bricks and nature-made trees. It initially caught my eye because as the sun gleamed down on the dew-kissed, delicate strings, I noticed a bright, green caterpillar "hanging by a thread." (if you know me, you know I just laughed right there at my own silly thoughts...it's the little things ya know...) I watch it wriggle and squirm as it tried to free itself. I watched anxiously and wanted to grab a stick to hold underneath of his tiny body because I knew the awful fate that awaited this new birth of spring if it actually freed itself.

He stopped moving for a moment and my breathing slowed. I noticed "Charlotte" in the corner with her legs crossed, showing just how "in control" she was. I imagine she was peacefully dozing but all the while feeling the thrashing on her newly created masterpiece. It may have even annoyed her just the slightest because she had just spend several hours spinning this magnificent creation. He started wiggling again and I held my breath...He's so young & doesn't understand the cycle of life going on here.

"Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment. So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigor are meaningless." (11:9b-10)

From the back hallway, a child starts to laugh and teachers discuss the day's agenda. I bode farewell to this sweet caterpillar, wishing him well and walked on to deliver materials after my two minutes with God's creatures.

That's when it dawned on me. I'm hanging by a thread! I'm banging myself back and forth in this web, my life, tearing at the very threads God is trying to weave! Everything I am trying to hang onto that is not from Him, is meaningless. I'm scared for the "new" and "unknown." Things are not "planned." And I remember then...I want, rather I need, to make my life a living sacrifice for Him.

"Meaningless! Meaningless! ...Everything is meaningless!" (12:8)

He will guide and direct me ... and put a stick under me so I won't fall! He feels me tugging and sees the broken threads needing to be sewn back together but He waits patiently for me to stop throwing a temper tantrum. He loves me even in that moment and that is purely amazing to me! All of the things I feel pressuring me and pursuing my time and attention begin to drop. Even if those pursuits are of evil and if they are hidden to me.

"...here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." (12:13-14)

So how do I grow? I feed myself with what He has provided. Two of my favorite children's books have always been "Charlotte's Web" and "The Very Hungry Caterpillar." Charlotte waited patiently for the right time, yet never wasted a moment of her life because it had a distinct purpose. The nameless caterpillar learned an important lesson after eating all of the things he shouldn't have...and when he finally ate the delicious green leaves created just for him, he rested. In his rest, he changed into something more beautiful than he ever imagined.

What are you still sitting there for reading this latest post? Get up, read these books to your children, and help explain to them that this life we are walking in is meaningless, meaningless if we aren't waiting on Him, ridding ourselves of all of the "bad foods" and resting in His perfect will. ...Just a thought, you should probably read Ecclesiastes, too...I'm jus sayin...

:O)

Shannan