Butterflies, Ribbons and Hidden Gems

written by

Jeannette Zink

I have been thinking about PEACE a lot these days. I have also been giving beauty and chaos some thought. And, then there are the global current events demanding their stage presence on our emotional and intellectual landscape. While it may feel at times that the world is spinning out of control and positioned to go off the life-as-we-know-it rails at any second, may I suggest we pause to center ourselves and take in the breath of yesterday’s strength, today’s grace and tomorrow’s hope. It could be that we are simply in the caterpillar stage of our universal life cycle.

Granted, the journey is a bit of an ugly mess as we struggle to complete the metamorphosis climb from our anger, hurt and despair to the blissful freedom of peace, love and respect of humankind. The naivety of this utopian state is not the purpose of our expedition, but the ultimate destiny we strive to arrive. We have much to learn on this journey and many battles to be encountered before we find our way to a congenial existence among the gifts of our diversity.

The banquet that this caterpillar feeds upon is the feast of our better self and the shameful worst. The ascent to a higher plane of virtue made difficult for a purpose. The victorious struggles a reward of intent wrapped in wings of understanding where once laid claim to arid fields of hatred and envy.

There is beauty and love in the emergent flight of the butterfly’s life cycle. It is from this book of knowledge that their allusive nature and exquisite marvel weigh heavy on our expectations for greatness. Guide us to the path where our better self of goodness, justice and equality are more than a transient fantasy, rather the solid foundation that will stand firm in the face of our struggles, questions and public discourse.

May we be the seekers of truth while holding the companion hands of respect and kindness – hidden gems from a toolkit of our defining moments and judged history … perhaps a blueprint worthy of our attention and the means for an informed PEACE throughout our life cycle.

Butterflies are free and so are we to make thoughtful decisions even during the most painful of times. 

We serve a purpose larger than ourselves … let’s serve it well.

Peace and love, my kindred spirits.