... and don't we all wish we could turn into

beautiful butterflies?

My Butterfly Page

This is a mini-gallery dedicated to *les papillons*.

This past January, I attended a retreat weeked that happens every year at Graphite Camp, called Snowbound.  It's lots of fun, with tubing, snowmobiling, lotsa games, and free time to just hang with people and meet new friends.  The speaker this year was new, but his stories were really energetic and fun.  One of the most memorable was the catepillar story he told.  These creatures, after munching in their happy existence for a while, just decide to hang upside down, and wrap themselves up... and wait.      (cont.)
            

Pictures Copyright Paul Opler

What's that all about?  Do they actually know what's going on?  It must take so much trust to basically go with instinct even though it looks something like suicide.  The speaker likened this to baptism in Christ.  You are immersed in the water, and you leave your old life and habits behind.  This can be very scary, leaving what you've known for years: friends, habits, addictions, whatever.  But in both cases, you leave your old life behind to become a whole, beautiful creature.  I know I'll never look at butterflies in the same way again... - C.