"And God said, I will be with you."
Exodus 3:12.

Recently there has been a lot of interest in butterflies. Butterfly houses to demonstrate the beauty of the species; butterfly gardens to attract them to our backyards; and butterfly images in decorative arts. We marvel at their beauty and astounding life cycle. Fragile little creatures that undertake an annual migration of thousands of miles. Monarchs, who spend their winters in Mexico after a rest stop in Cape May, are most familiar to us. We wonder, how do they know how to get there? When to go? When to come back? Do they ever get lost? Do they take the same route every year? Numerous research organizations monitor the migration patterns hoping to answer some of those questions. The answers are slow in coming. There seems to be more to it than the measurable elements of time, light and temperature.

But we know very little about migration of any kind. There are forces there that we hardly understand.

Perhaps the first documentation of a migration was when Moses led his tribe across the desert. It was quite a trip. It took him a long time. He did have some broad directions, but how did he know how to get there? Did he ever get lost? How did he know? The bible tells us it is so, and that he received his guidance from God.

And so it is in our lives. Where are we going? Do we ever get lost? How do we know? Can we actually perceive when our god is leading us? Where to go for answers? How to listen and watch for directions?

Does the same god who leads the butterfly, lead us? It is so. I believe.

Dear Lord, help us to listen for your directions, and help us when we get lost. Lead us on our life's journey. Amen

Contributed by Helen L.
Published Monday December 29, 2003
Week 5 of Liturgical Year C