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THE PARABLE of the CATERPILLAR
Once the face
of the Earth was covered with caterpillars of all kinds, shapes, sizes and colors.
These caterpillars led fairly mundane lives by most accounttheir days
generally taken up foraging for food, occasionally fighting with each other
over a choice leaf, and generally trying to avoid being eaten by the ravenous
birds that wheeled overhead. They were not unhappy with their lot in lifethey
were only caterpillars after allbut they were not particularly happy,
either. In fact, most of them went through their short, difficult lives often
wondering if there wasn't more to being a caterpillar than simply foraging for
food and avoiding being food.
One day several of the caterpillars hit upon an idea. They had an idea that
they could protect themselves from the elements and the always hungry birds
by constructing a type of blanket they produced from their own bodies. This
wrapping they called a "cocoon" and, once a few of the wiser caterpillars
demonstrated how this cocoon was built and how well it protected them, soon
nearly all the other caterpillars began building one of their own.
Some, however, thought the idea not only sillyafter all, there was no
proof a cocoon would really protect them from anythingbut, worse, it was
nothing more than a feeble attempt to escape the brutal realities of the caterpillar
life, so they refused to build one of their own. They would stay on the ground
and carry on as before, thank you; they didn't need any of this "cocoon"
nonsense.
But the overwhelming majority of the caterpillars thought the cocoon a great
idea and soon the trees and bushes were filled with their handiwork. Not surprisingly,
there were almost as many different types of cocoons as there were caterpillars
and, of course, each caterpillar thought their cocoon superior to all the otherssometimes
even getting into heated debates over it. This, of course, only reinforced the
belief among the "ground dwellers"those that refused to build
cocoonsthat they were wise to have not gotten involved in all this cocoon
foolishness. They couldn't even agree among themselves which cocoon was superior,
they laughed, and they consistently waved off the cocoon dwellers pleas that
they join them for their own safety.
The cocoon dwellers, however, knew it was the ground dwellers who were the foolish
ones. They were at least protected from the cold and rain, and since the cocoons
tended to blend in with the leaves, it made them harder for the birds to see.
As such, it did provide safetyat least to some degree. Clearly theirs
was the better way, but despite that their pleas to their brethren below often
fell on deaf ears.
This uneasy standoff went on for some time until one day something strange happened.
Some of the cocoon-bound caterpillars began to change. They began to grow wing-like
appendages on their backs that seemed to suggest that a caterpillar could somehow,
in some strange way they could not quite understand, be more than a caterpillar.
In fact, some of them began to believe that which was clearly impossible for
any caterpillar to do, and that was that they might fly.
This, of course, was nonsense. Caterpillars were not built for such a thing
and it was foolish to even suggest such an idea. Yet, how could one explain
that many of the cocoon dwellersespecially those that had been in the
cocoons for a good long timeseemed to be sprouting wing-like appendages?
They were slicked back and tightly folded behind their backs because of the
close confines of the cocoon they were in, it was true, but they were wings
nonetheless.
Worse, some of the winged caterpillars began entertaining the notion they might
really be able to fly. The problem was they would never find out if they remained
in the tight confines of their cocoon. In order to spread their wings it would
be necessary to break the cocooneven, perchance, destroy itin order
to test their theory.
It was a frightening idea. The cocoon had given them the security and safety
they had sought. How could they destroy it as if it meant nothing? Further,
what guarantees did they have that once they broke free they wouldn't simply
drop to the ground as some who had constructed the flimsiest cocoons had occasionally
done? And wouldn't they leave themselves in the open where the birds could easily
pick them off? It was foolhardy to even consider the idea, they were told by
the oldest and wisest of the caterpillars. Simply ignore their new appendages
and remain safe in their cocoon was the best advice.
Somemany, in facttook the elder's advice and remained locked in
their cocoons, safe and secure the rest of their lives, always wondering what
it might have been like to fly but never finding the courage to break out and
see. For some, the cocoon was woven so tight and thick there was no way to break
it open even if they wanted to, so they didn't even bother to try. Fortunately,
after awhile many of those who refused to leave the cocoons saw their wings
shrivel up and fall off, relieving them of their burden of wondering and restoring
peace to the cocoon.
Some, howeverjust a few at first, but than othersdecided to take
a chance. Working secretly and timidly at first, they quietly tore a small hole
in their cocoons, just large enough to get a glimpse of the sunshine and blue
sky outside. Excited nowthough still very much afraidthey made the
hole a little larger until they at last had enough room to spread their wings
and let the warm air stir around them. In doing so they discovered that the
wings they had kept so tightly folded behind them were, when spread, things
of breath-taking beauty. Ochres and golds and burgundies and blacksall
the colors of the rainbow it seemedshimmered from their surface, glimmering
in the sunlight in a uniquely distinctive but strangely harmonious riot of color.
Intoxicated with the beauty around them, they finally worked up enough courage
to split their cocoon apart and push off into the air, using their great winged
appendages to steer them through the currents of sunshine.
Free! They were free from the confines of their cocoons for the first time in
their life, and they wheeled higher and higher into the sky until they could
clearly see the forest below them in all its radiant glory. It was so beautiful
it took their breath away, and they realized for the first time in their lives
that they were never intended to be caterpillars at all. They were always meant
to be what they now werebutterflies! Free and beautiful and overcome with
joy, they wheeled overhead in ecstasy, in love with one another and the world
below. At last, they had become what the Creator had intended them to be. At
last, they were themselves.
The other caterpillars belowboth those in their cocoons and those on the
groundrefused to look up or even acknowledge the strange, new creatures
flying peacefully overhead. There was nothing to see up there, they shouted
in unison, except the ravenous birds that lived in the air. For the first time
they spoke as one in strongly discouraging anyone from trying to fly. "It
was too dangerous!" they cried in unison.
It was one of the few times the ground dwellers and the cocoon dwellers ever
agreed on anything.