Perhaps you’ve seen kids do this on occasion – cute. Adults doing this – not so cute.
Anyway, I recall what went through my mind when I saw a butterfly come close to me when I was a child. I glanced at it and immediately wanted to have it up close to me. My curiosity drove me to chase the butterfly. Sometimes I would be successful, but most of the time I would fail, only to see it fly out of my reach where I could no longer appreciate its beautiful colors. It’s rather disheartening. I obviously meant no harm to it. I just wanted it to stay so I could stare at all of its patters and color combinations. If only it could understand.
Sometimes I would be successful in catching it. In my overly excited state of mind I would sometimes become oblivious to just how different in size we were and would forget just how easily I could harm the tiny thing. I’m sure you’ve discovered (in this same way) that all of its beautiful colors are nothing but a thin coating of powder that comes off so easily, it should almost be a crime to touch it. After a couple of incidents where I had either broken off a wing, or smeared its color patters, I decided I had no business trying to trap one.
Yet sometimes, in the rarest of occasions, one would perch itself either on my head, or shoulder, or arm, or hand…and it would stay there almost as long as I wanted. Just enough time for me to hold it up close and admire the patters, colors and fragility of this small thing. It’s as if it knew I had always been curious to admire it. Maybe, for that split second, we understood each other.
I may be completely off here. I sense that God’s love demands that same respect. His love is beautiful and complete in its perfection. Our understanding of His love is minimal, but that doesn’t mean we’re not drawn to its beauty. Granted that God’s love is there to be taken and given, OUR OWN perception of love is what usually ends up distorting what that love really is.
In our brokenness, pain, anger, loneliness, we begin to chase after a love that won’t let itself be captured. Because at that point we’re driven by our selfishness, our lack of patience, our lack of wisdom. We believe that “true love” equals everything that [in our minds] is pleasant, enjoyable and happy. I’m sorry to say that I don’t believe this to be true. The GREATEST act of love was a brutal display of submission – the Crucifixion. This was neither pleasant, enjoyable nor happy.
Love can’t be captured. Love befalls us when we least expect it, and I think that’s the way it should be. It’s all around us and IT WILL perch itself on you when you least expect it, by way of a random person on the street, a family member, a friend, etc. And you’ll admire its beauty, its uniqueness. And for that split second, you’ll understand that “love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails…and now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
The most amazing thing about this is that WE all have the capacity to bring that to someone’s shoulder – anytime, any place.
I’ve yet to understand the fullness of His love, but I don’t expect to achieve that in this life. There’s no way my mind can wrap itself around it. I’ve been blown away so many times by the love God has placed in people’s lives around me. So glorious, so beautiful, so fulfilling. I can’t even imagine THE FULLNESS of God’s love when we’re all rejoicing in His Presence.
But for now, I’m satisfied with loving to the best of my spirit.
I hope that helps. But please ask questions, there are many people here that have wise words to give.
-mars
beautiful metaphor. thanks for posting.
kudos! =)
Amazing Mars. I have been trying to ‘capture’ that butterfly for what seems like way too long. And I always seem to harm it with my brokenness. I have no business attempting to capture the uncapturable! (is that a word?) Thank you so much, that was a blessing to me.
Carrie Davis