Creation

The Butterfly that Was Two Butterflies

Tammy M CardwellLeave a comment
Blog cover featuring a Blue Morpho butterfly with closed camouflage wings and open iridescent blue wings beneath the title "The Butterfly That Was Two Butterflies."

“Tammy. Take a picture!”

The words were urgent, but also softly spoken.

I turned and saw a huge butterfly resting on my sister’s arm. It had mistaken her colorful tattooed cuff for a flower and, once it settled, was in no hurry to leave. In fact, it stayed on her long enough for pretty much everyone in our tour group to take pictures.

This specimen was both beautiful and fascinating. It seemed perfectly designed for camouflage. Its colors and the shape of its wings would have made it disappear completely up against a tree or leaf-strewn forest floor. And then there were the spots that looked very much like eyes; other animals could easily have mistaken it for a predator instead of prey.

I wondered if that was part of why it stayed so long. It instinctively knew it had nothing to fear. In a sense, it was hidden in plain sight.

It makes me think of us and how our lives are hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3) When we are right with God, we are in a sense wearing a type of spiritual camouflage. The devil may see us, but he also sees the One who watches over us. That knowledge can give us the same type of confidence that butterfly had.

We saw many beautiful butterflies at the butterfly conservatory that day, and we took our fair share of pictures. But there was one butterfly that proved most elusive. There were plenty of specimens there, but we only saw them in flight, and they seemed able to disappear without warning. We got only one picture, and it’s not the best.

Blue Morpho butterfly with iridescent blue wings displaying shifting shades of sapphire and teal.

Its wings flashed the most astonishing shades of blue, shades that changed as it moved. What you see here is a true representation of its coloring. The left wing wasn’t just in shadow and the right in the sun; its colors were literally shifting as it moved—which it did constantly.

I set my heart on following one until it landed for more than a split second so I could get a photo. After much wandering and a great deal of patience, I finally got my wish. One of these glorious creatures settled onto a branch right in front of me.

And suddenly I was laughing so I couldn’t have taken a photo if its wings had stayed open and still long enough.

Because, you see, the instant it landed it closed its wings.

And it was the very same butterfly that had landed on my sister’s arm.

Blue Morpho butterfly resting on a woman's hand with its wings closed, revealing brown camouflage and large owl-like eyespots.

There are so many spiritual lessons wrapped up in that one discovery that I hardly know where to begin.

When this Blue Morpho rested on my sister’s arm, it was the same brilliantly blue butterfly it had been only moments before. Nothing had changed. The blue hadn’t disappeared; it was simply hidden from view. Its beauty remained hidden until it took flight.

The science of this butterfly’s coloring is particularly fascinating. According to scientists, the blue isn’t pigment at all. Millions of microscopic structures on its wings reflect blue light and cancel out the other colors. That’s why this one was caught flashing from a deep sapphire in the left wing to a brilliant teal in the right.

Every detail of this butterfly speaks of an unimaginably creative Designer.

God took so much care to clothe this one butterfly in kingly colors at the same time He graced it with an almost perfect camouflage!

And why worry about your clothing?
Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow.
They don’t work or make their clothing,
yet Solomon in all his glory
was not dressed as beautifully as they are.
And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers
that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow,
he will certainly care for you.
Why do you have so little faith?

Matthew 6:28-30 NLT

And if God cares so wonderfully for the Blue Morpho…

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

The Aphantasia Guide

Tammy M CardwellLeave a comment

The above photo is from the Aphantasia Guide

I learned about aphantasia back in February when I discovered I had it. That graphic you see above? I’m a 5. I always assumed phrases like “close your eyes and imagine” and “enter the theater of your mind” were figures of speech. I had NO idea what those words meant to most of the people around me. You can read the start of my aphantasia journey in my post entitled “I Can’t Imagine.”

In my research, I discovered the Aphantasia Network, and today I received an email from them that contained a link to the Aphantasia Guide. Yes, I’m linking to it twice in one post. There’s a reason. It’s that good.

If you have recently (or not so recently) discovered that you have aphantasia, you probably have myriad questions. The Aphantasia Network has created a free guide that contains answers to those most commonly asked and links to articles that offer deeper study. It also links to online aphant hangouts like the Facebook Aphantasia Support Group.

If you know someone who has aphantasia, I encourage you to check out the guide as well. It will give you a much greater understanding of the differences between you and them. In sense, we seem to live on different planets, so understanding helps – from both sides.

It’s a fascinating study, really. God has designed our brains so precisely, and with such diversity, that it never ceases to amaze me. Am I handicapped because I have no visual imagination? Of course not; I’m just different. Frankly, I wouldn’t trade places with a non-aphant if I had the chance. That’s the honest truth.

And, just for fun, here’s a third link to the Aphantasia Guide!

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

Rest on Us

Tammy M CardwellLeave a comment

Every time we sing “Rest on Us” in church, one line gives me chills.

As the Spirit was moving over the waters
Spirit, come move over us

Why the chills?

Expectancy!

The Bible begins with, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Every time I start another readthrough of the Bible those words excite me. I know, in reading them, that great things are about to happen! And then…

The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

Genesis 1:2

I’ve wondered, many times, what God was thinking as He hovered, or moved, over those waters. Was He simply delighting in all that was brand new, in the very beginning of Creation? Was He enjoying the moment? Was He planning out in minute detail everything that would transpire over the next few days?

Whatever He was thinking, He was moving with intent, with purpose, with a plan. And oh, what a plan! As He moved over those waters, miracles started to happen!

And that’s why I get chills every time we sing that song. We’re not singing simple lyrics! We’re asking God, “Please, move over us with the same intent and purpose you did on day one of Creation! Create in us what You want to see! Draw from us what You want to produce! Make us fruitful! Move on us so that, when You are done, you can lean back and say, “It is very good.”

We don’t want to be formless, empty, and dark. We want to be filled with the light, basking in His glory as early Creation did. We want to walk beside Him as Adam did. Yes Lord, Move over us! Come rest on us!

And if you have no idea what I’m talking about, you can check out this recording featuring Brandon Lake & Eniola Abioye by Maverick City Music and UPPERROOM.

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C