Pollywogs And Caterpillars

Things change, it’s the nature of life. With a little luck it goes like the butterflies and frogs, metamorphosing from caterpillars and pollywogs to winged creatures or sturdy little amphibians, both with more choices than their progeny.

But, I tell you, dropping those tails and spinning cocoons is not easy. It takes a lot of perseverance to become a frog and a lot of courage to believe you will wake up a butterfly. Who in their right mind thinks they can change that much?

There really is not much choice. In Popeye’s immortal words, “I yam what I yam.” The only choice I really have is in how I make these transitions. Some people go kicking and screaming from one stage to another. Others rush so quickly they miss the finer points of all of them.

I prefer to just take my time and enjoy the moments along the way. Not that all of them are enjoyable. Quite the contrary, some things are more difficult as time goes by. Dropping that tail and climbing out of the pond into adulthood was not easy. It took me a long time, way longer than many people I know, but eventually even I had to put my feet down and hop off into the real world.

Then when my own children came along, an entirely new set of challenges reared their heads. For one thing, it seemed like I was eternally exhausted for a long while. I used to dream of getting a good night’s sleep! That, too, passed. All things, it seems, do pass.

Too quickly I sometimes think when I look back.

I fought spinning that cocoon with every ounce of strength I had. I knew who I was and what I wanted and it had nothing to do with silence and light and peace. I was life and energy and love!

But eventually the Silence claimed me as the child of light I am and I was right. I am life and energy and love, but they are so much richer and more soul satisfying now that I am learning to glide along on these newfound wings.

I know that some day my wings will grow weary and I will feel the need for more light, but right now I am just savoring this beautiful moment as I flutter along near the shimmering brilliance of you.