Whenever we think of butterflies, we only think of their pretty wings. It never occurs to us that maybe the butterfly is a specie whose existence transcends the provision of materialistic beauty to the world.
The other day,I was watching a documentary on the National Geographic Channel,called "Great Migrations". It was through this documentary I realised the true importance of the butterfly.
The Monarch Butterfly is a type of butterfly, whose lifespan, though short, encompasses a journey so great, that it is absolutely and unbelievably undertaken, year after year after year.
The Monarch's original habitat is in Mexico. From this land of fiery forests,it undertakes a journey, all the way to Canada. During this journey, not one, not two, but upto four generations of Monarchs are born and they die. Despite such heavy losses, this angelic creature traces the wingflaps of its ancestors,year after year.
The Monarch, when in flight, looks like whisps of delicate earthy smoke. It creates an intense desire in the onlooker, to just lift up our hands and gently pluck one from it's skiey tree. But it also makes us worry about the possible pain we might cause these delightful creatures, which look like vulnerable leaves floating in the wind. But, they also inspire in us awe, at the amount of energy and determination within their paper-like bodies. When people say that big things come in small packages, they are probably, subconciously talking about the Monarch Butterfly.
I know I haven't written about how the Monarchs help in pollination and inturn help in maintaining the balance of nature. Nature, which already is hanging precariously on the brink of destruction, is being saved by creatures as small and even smaller than the Monarch.
I haven't written about the food consumed by these creatures. I also haven't given any special, scientific information regarding these insects. But, the point I was trying to bring home was that some of God's smallest creatures, however insignificant they may seem at first, are in reality some of the most beautiful and powerful creatures in the world.
It's very easy for someone to marvel at the journey undertaken by some of the bigger animals like whales,zebras,elephants and many more. True, they are beautiful and without doubt some of the most awe-inspiring stories of these majestic creatures' lives. But, it takes a lot more than just a curious mind to appreciate the true quintessential beauty of the trials and tribulations of these smaller of Mother Natures children. It takes patience and love for these creatures to take the time and learn of their ever-present, but not easily visible power, beauty and importance.
The Monarch Butterfly is a testament to the Lord's delicate handiwork. It is a testament to all those small creatures, who, in their small, quite, unobstructive way make a huge difference to the world of God's other creatures. They not only bring in beauty to the material world, but also bring a certain peace to our spirits, a certain joy to our mind. These tiny power-packets of the natural world, carry with them not only their magnificent genetic codes and ancestral secrets, but also uplift our souls, as they journey into the starry skies.
AGNI
No comments:
Post a Comment