I realize this happens and I want to change that. I need more every day magic. This was never more clear to me than a couple of days ago. It was another hot Texas morning and as I walked out my front door to go to my office, I noticed.
Each Spring for the past 6 years, I plant herbs to attract Monarch and Swallowtail Butterflies. I always wanted to be a environmentalist and this is the closest I've come so far. And each year, I notice upwards of 20 or more caterpillars feasting on these herbs. This year was no different - or was it?
Although I've seen many, many caterpillars, I've never seen a butterfly from my "maternity ward". I watch the caterpillars grow from little black specs to over an inch long and very plump. Every day, their only job is to munch away on the herb plants. Each morning, afternoon or evening, I peak out to see if there's a butterfly. Instead, I see the caterpillars getting bigger and bigger.
It never fails, the next time I check on them, they're all gone. Just gone. No thank you. No see you soon note. Just gone. So, it was subtle, but I guess I just quit expecting to see the magic of a new butterfly.
But this year, I noticed something. It caught my eye as I walked past the planter. The leaves on the small plant moved. "What's under that bush", I wondered. I kept walking down the pathway.
But after a few steps, I stopped. I knew there was something I needed to notice. And there it was - a brand new butterfly! It had just dropped and opened it's beautiful black and yellow wings for the first time. My jaw dropped and I didn't breathe. I didn't want it to fly away. I wanted to see it do whatever first born butterflies do .... It gently opened and closed it's wings with grace and I realized I was smiling from ear to ear. I quietly whispered to God - thank you for this gift. It reminded me that I am never in charge of timing. I am responsible for what I'm paying attention to. I felt joy just from noticing the magic of that day. I paid attention to what was different and stopped to check it out. Where do you need to look closer because one day, normal will be different. And then .... the gift of every day magic shows up.
