From chrysalis… to butterfly

“The Cypress Maze” by Fiona Valpy is an historical novel set in Italy during two juxtaposed time periods, 1943 and 2015. One part of the intriguing story revolves around young children who found refuge from the horrors of war in a beautiful villa in the seemingly peaceful Tuscan countryside.

Gio and Alfredo, one from the local village and the other from the bombed-out city of Turin, became fast friends. One day, young Alfredo was found crying inconsolably. In his hand were the crushed remains of a butterfly. His friend Gio explained that “We didn’t mean to hurt it. We thought we were helping.”

The boys had found a butterfly chrysalis (cocoon) as they explored the grounds of the villa. In their innocence, they thought they would “help” the butterfly by releasing it from its “cage.” Gio said, “We only wanted to let the butterfly come out and spread its wings in the sunshine. We wanted to save it the struggle and keep its strength for flying.”

The kind woman who had opened her home to the refugees gently explained to the young boys…

“But you see, my darlings, you can’t do the work for it.
The butterfly has to struggle to release itself from the cocoon
in order to become strong enough to fly.
See how its wings were fully formed?
But nature still needed it to go through a little more
so it could develop its strength.
You meant well, I know.
You wanted to help it,
to save it from the hard work.
But now you understand,
it’s the struggle itself
that gives the butterfly the strength to survive.

Francesca in Chapter 19, Beatrice’s Story — 1942, page 132

“It’s the struggle itself that gives the butterfly the strength to survive.”

How often do I find myself responding to life in the same way the boys did???

• Thinking that by avoiding struggles, wanting to make things easier, looking for an escape from conflict or pain or hard issues is the best route?
• Interfering in the lives of others thinking I’m helping… when actually the best thing they — and I — need is to go through whatever is before us?

“God’s Instruction Manual” (aka the Bible) talks about how life IS hard. It IS filled with struggles, heartache, injustices. They are often referred to as “fiery trials” — fiery because they’re intense, impassioned, have a lot of heat and potential for hurt. And yet they have benefits (which often aren’t felt or understood at the moment — voice of experience speaking!):

• Develop perseverance, and perseverance leads to maturity/not lacking anything (James 1:2-4).
• One author (Paul) goes so far as to say that we can REJOICE (!) in our sufferings because they produce perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us… (Romans 5: 3-5).
• “Enduring hardship” is actually a demonstration that God loves us. Why? Because it’s showing that He’s disciplining us, treating us as His children. “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12: 7, 11).

Yes, like the young boys I often want to help things along by avoiding the cramped/unproductive/HARD feelings of being stuck in the midst of struggles. And yet… it’s by these very struggles that my faith and trust in God most readily grows.

I also tend to want to short-circuit what God may be needing to do in the lives of others — especially those closest to me — by wanting to free the butterfly from its chrysalis, so to speak. But again, I need to get out of the way to let Him accomplish His purposes… in HIS time. I often forget that “It’s the struggle itself that gives the butterfly the strength to survive.”

I haven’t yet finished the book, but I’m already grateful for how a fictional story has brought such a practical truth to light. Just as the young boys were gently comforted by the wise words of Francesca (the owner of the villa), I’m encouraged by God’s tenderness in helping me grow as His child… how He is always with me, always loves me, always wants to make something beautiful out of the things (cocoons) in my life.

Chrysalis? or butterfly? May we encourage one another in whatever state we find ourselves and together have joy in the journey of this thing called “Life!”

references to “The Cypress Maze” by Fiona Valpy

published July 18, 2023 — available on Amazon.com