I was emailing a friend and he told me he is reading a book that has to do with God revealing Himself to mankind and how we see the results of His incredible work in our lives. I began to ponder ways that God has revealed Himself to me personally and I remembered this story from my sophomore year of college.
I was at Warner Camp in Michigan and it was my first full summer away from home. I took a job at Warner as a counselor and I didn't know anyone on staff. I guess you could say it was a defining moment for me, because I get nervous to meet new people in unfamiliar places. So...there I was at this camp, far from home, and the director made the staff shovel goose poop off of the lake front to get ready for the first week of campers. You can imagine just how grossed out I was! Well, there were not enough regular shovels so I got stuck with a pale and shovel that a child would use to collect sand or shells at the beach. Seriously...
As I shoveled poop with a child's toy feeling pretty homesick, I asked God in my heart why He had led me to this place. "God, I don't know anyone yet, I'm home sick, and I'm shoveling goose poop. Please be with me. Please just let me know somehow that I made the right decision by coming here. Please just show me you love me."
Well, as soon as my heart finished the prayer, a big yellow butterfly landed right next to me. She just sat there and slowly opened up her wings as if to show off her beauty. Then she carefully walked onto my shovel. I sat there for a long time admiring the way her wings shimmered in the sun. Then it was as if my heart and mind realized all at once that God loved me and was with me. He sent the butterfly to remind me of that. She flew away and with her, so did my worries.
That summer was one of the best summers of my life so far. It was the summer that I felt God calling me to a life of service, and it was the summer I decided to change my major to Social Work. Now every time I see a yellow butterfly I remember God's promise to love me and be with me wherever I go.
I don't know if I have my eye out for them now or if God knows how much I need reassuring, but it seems that every time I am about to make a big decision or am worried about something, I will see a yellow butterfly. Even when I worked in the heart of a big city where there were no butterflies, I would see them whenever I felt anxious. For example, one day I was feeling so overwhelmed by the struggle I saw in the city. It was breaking my heart and I was feeling so small. I needed reassurance that God was with me. I prayed that I would see a yellow butterfly and when I looked up and out the van window, there, painted on the side of a building was a HUGE mural of a yellow butterfly. Not kidding. You probably guessed the next series of events...I gasped, pointed, screamed, cried, and treasured it up. The passengers in the van didn't know what I was so excited about and looked at me a little funny, but it wasn't for them. It was for me. And that is why I'm so in love with this God who reveals Himself to mankind. I firmly believe that He reveals Himself personally to us. How incredible that the Creator God of the Universe and all that is in it, wants to reveal Himself to me in a way that is special to my heart. It is the same for you. How is He revealing Himself to you? Let us remember to pray that our eyes, ears, and hearts will be open to His Voice.
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