Cocoon - Monday Musing, June 7, 2021

Dear Church,

Cocoon. Have you ever seen a caterpillar transform into a beautiful butterfly? There are few transformations in nature as miraculous and fascinating as the process of becoming a butterfly. Butterflies go through a life cycle that involves several stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The metamorphosis from a caterpillar into a butterfly occurs during the pupa stage. During this stage, the caterpillar's old body dies and a new body forms inside a protective shell known as a chrysalis.

Cocoons provide camouflage and protection. Thus, the word cocoon is often expanded beyond insect larva to refer to any type of protective covering. This past year during the global coronavirus pandemic, the world has been living in a cocoon, sheltering ourselves for protection while the scientists worked on a vaccine to prevent the spread of the disease. We are just now beginning to fully emerge from our cocoons – yesterday in worship was the first time when those who have been vaccinated from COVID-19 did not have to wear a mask.

The hymn “In the Bulb There Is a Flower” comes to mind as I reflect on our emerging from wearing masks. Here are the lyrics of the first verse:

In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;

in cocoons, a hidden promise; butterflies will soon be free!

In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be,

unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

In his second letter to the church at Corinth, the Apostle Paul writes, “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! (2 Cor 5:17). In Christ, God redraws our genealogy and creates a new family, which transcends lineage and blood lines (Mark 3:35). In a community of faith, we are called to share together in the joy and blessing of caring for one another beyond the circle of our immediate family.

It has been a challenging first year of our mutual ministry. Things we hoped to accomplish have not even been planned, let alone implemented. We are finally emerging from our cocoons – but to what do we emerge to? What might God have in store for us as we emerge mask-less, eager to spread our wings to give loving, hands-on, personalized care to people in need? The second verse of “In the Bulb” may hold the answer:

There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody;

there’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me.

From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery,

unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

See you in church!

Faithfully,

Darren