Last week I started a Master Gardener class (so excited!). Entomology (i.e. the study of insects) was our first lesson and it ending with a trek through the on premise gardens. I was mesmerized by the support the butterfly needs to complete its metamorphosis.

Webster defines metamorphosis as, “…a major change in the appearance or character of someone or something.” As it relates to biology, Webster defines metamorphosis as, “…a major change in the form or structure of some animals or insects that happens as the animal or insect becomes an adult.”

So, basically living things are continuously changing until they become mature. I believe this maturity includes our spiritual development. Some of us are changing in small and gradual ways while others are undergoing total transformations in lightning speed which renders our old self unrecognizable. This is necessary for us to achieve the purpose(s) for which we have been created. For some of us this process can cause great anxiety, fear, and worry. Working through this discomfort is the focus of today’s post.

As God would have it, I turned on the TV while composing this post and discovered Michael Beckwith on Super Soul Sunday. Talk about Divine timing!   He offered some great advice from his Life Visioning book which can help us to embrace our metamorphosis. Here are the key points that I think are relevant to today’s topic:

• Participate in the unfolding of your unique expression of God’s personality – A first step to establishing a healing and supportive environment is to come to peace and acceptance with this fact; you are a unique expression of God’s personality
• Usher in assistance from God by asking for HELP (i.e. Hello Eternal Loving Presence) – Michael offers this acronym to help us remember that we are not in this alone. God will assist us if we are willing to ask for help. He does caution us to ask questions whose answers will empower us to work through our challenges as opposed to questions that will keep us stuck. Ask, “What’s trying to unfold?” versus “Why me?”
• Pain pushes until Vision pulls – I LOVED this visualization of a challenge. If I’m remembering his intention here, it is related to a strategy to help us work through those dark nights of the soul. The times when we are shedding old selves and before a new self has emerged. He proposes that our pain and suffering may push us to go inward and then when we can see what we are working to become this vision will pull us forward.
• Challenges come to activate latent potential in us – If we can see our challenges as a way to develop our character, we can find a way through. He suggested that we ask ourselves, “If this experience were to last forever, what quality would I need to develop to have peace of mind?” Focusing on developing this quality will distract us from our suffering and help us to move quickly through those dark nights.

A few other one liners that Michael shared which were big for me are:

• You cannot have what you are unwilling to become.
• You have to like yourself when you are by yourself.
• You are either ‘in reaction’ or ‘in choice’.

Working through our spiritual growth is really our life’s work. Don’t worry; just like the caterpillar you have everything within you to become the butterfly you were meant to be.  You can read more about Michael’s advice on reaching your highest potential in his book Life Visioning: A Transformative Process for Activating our Unique Gifts and Highest Potential.

For this week’s sound track, I’ve chosen Tamela Mann’s “Take me to the King”. It is a song that I listen to when I’m sitting in God’s presence seeking direction.

Until next week,

Pernà