Inside/Outside

Butterflies in the Garden has again come to the Ft. Worth Botanic Garden. It is one of my favorite places, even though the fee has doubled since its last visit. I went the second day, in spite of overcast and cold weather, thinking that there might not be as many people. I was right; there were only a few people there with me.

With camera in hand I entered into the misty, warm conservatory. I didn't see a butterfly in sight. I had expected that they would be all less active because of the overcast cool day. But after having given my camera a chance to defog, I began seeing some activity. The most incredible huge blue butterflies were flying around like some made up creatures in a kids' movie. They were often flying around in pairs, so close yet just out of reach. Eyes of everyone around followed to see where they might land and provide a photo op. One continued to land on one of the volunteer's bright yellow sweater. But the beautiful blue was not to be captured there against that sunny color.

The thing about the Blue Morpho is that it immediately closes its wings shut upon landing. It is much protected by the drab colors of the underwing providing camouflage to anything that might be dangerous. It is usually impossible to photograph these beauties with their 8-10 inch wingspan open no more than a second or two after landing. Many volunteers told me as much. But I had gotten the impossible photo before, and was confident that I would get the opportunity again. I turned the corner to see a Morpho fully open on a leaf and slowly raised my camera. What a prize!

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I started thinking about how our outsides and insides look different. I like to be around people who I am comfortable enough with that I am the same outside and inside. Sometimes discernment keeps me from revealing too much of myself. That is not a bad thing. There is a time to be open and a time to be closed off.

However, there is the inner being, through God's spirit, that is like that stunning blue of the Blue Morpho. That beauty is strengthened, rooted, and powered by love. We may look a little funny and uninteresting on the outside, but we are GLORIOUS creatures on the inside; especially if we know that we are established by and for God.

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I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power, through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpassed knowledge~~that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!
Amen!
Eph.3:16-21