How does a butterfly know it can fly, when it’s always been a creature that crawled upon the earth?  Is there pain, and fear, when it wakes from its metamorphosis, and fights its way out of the safe cocoon?

Is it afraid as it lies panting in the new sunshine, vulnerable to all larger life?  Why does it test its wings, pushing against the air?  How does it know to do that?  Who teaches it to fly, how can a tiny beast, once imprisoned, once only a crawler, nailed by gravity, begin to beat alien wings, lift itself into now only air, begin, (miracle!) to fly?

Is it afraid of the height?  What inner sense guides it to flutter to a friendly flower and there begin the first of a lovely communion of animal with plant?

Are we caterpillars?

Nan McKenzie, June 15, 2017