Finding Butterflies

Today I was walking through one of Bishkek’s beautiful city parks, here in Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia.  The morning had been very cold;  but by noon, an Indian summer day had set in.  I had time to spare before my next meeting, so I sat down on a bench to enjoy the heat of the sun on my face, the sound of the fountains spraying water, and children running and laughing.

One young couple was walking in my direction.  Their little girl, about four years old, was running ahead of them.  Right in front of me, a gorgeous selection of flowers were growing close together, all bright, all in full bloom.  Bees and butterflies were flitting about.

The little girl’s father squatted down beside her and said, “See the butterfly?”  She seemed excited as she peered into the bed of flowers, asking, “Where?”  Her father pointed and said, “There.”    “I don’t see it,” the little girl was obviously troubled because she couldn’t find the butterfly.

I admit, I could barely see it myself.  It blended in so well, with the colors of the flowers, that it was camouflaged.  The little girl’s father kept pointing , and the little girl kept looking.  She was straining to see the butterfly.  Finally, “There it is!  I see it!”  She looked proudly into her father’s smiling face, so pleased at her accomplishment, and delighted in the beauty of the butterfly.

As I strolled away, a thought came to my mind.  We are just like that little girl at times in our spiritual world.  We find ourselves in some situation of difficulty.  As promised, our Heavenly Father speaks to guide us;  His still, small voice whispering, “This is the way, now walk in it.”  Isaiah 30:21 We strain to see the way He is pointing, but everything is all blended in with the troubles of this world.  We become disappointed; perhaps, we even give up.  We stop looking, but that never, ever helps our situation.

Like the little girl, trusting her father to help her find the butterfly, we must keep asking, “Where, Father?  I don’t see the way.  Where is it?”  Be assured, when we ask, we are shown the way.  Just don’t give up easily.  You may be unnecessarily detained, or miss it, altogether.  “Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for.  Keep on seeking, and you will find.  Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened.”  Matthew 7:7

Just as the little girl’s father was determined, that her desire to see the butterfly be met, so your Heavenly Father determines, that your desire to hear His voice, and to know His guidance is met, also.