Naturalists in the 16^th century believed that the caterpillar completely die and are reborn in their most perfect and beautiful form as a butterfly.

“the old has passed away; behold the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

 My understanding of the butterfly pupation stage was probably always that the little butterfly enters the cocoon where it sprouts little legs and arms and it flies away.  But if you looked inside a chrysalis, you would not find a caterpillar or a butterfly—you would mostly find a weird slime.   Amazingly, what actually occurs during pupation is that the butterfly MELTS into a GREEN GOO, from which the butterfly emerges. Nobody really understands how it happens (seriously).
A professor at Georgetown did some interesting research with luna moths hoping to find out how much of the caterpillar stage the adult moth remembers after its transition.  She exposed the caterpillar to a scent (plant based, described as smelling like nail polish removed), every time the caterpillar was exposed to the scent, it would get zapped (scent/zap/scent/zap) until it feared the smell.  When the caterpillars pupated and emerged butterflies, they still feared and avoided the scent! So! We can see there are memories that make it out of the goo!
BUT ALSO, most magnificently, when you look at the structure of the chrysalis itself, you can see tiny translucent adult body parts embedded in its walls.  These body parts originated from INSIDE THE CATERPILLAR’S BODY. The caterpillar had been growing and carrying the adult parts within itself as it grew.
                so there is this interesting continuity on both sides and you can see how the story of the chrysalis is not only about what the caterpillar carries into the future, but also what of the future already lives within the caterpillar.

Lenten Journal: The First Entry

Note: I had wanted to post this first entry into my Lenten exploration, so here it is. Sorry it’s a bit late, I will try and follow up with a few more as they strike me as worth sharing.  I've never done lent before, so this is somewhat of an exploration of new territory for me, but I am very excited about it and excited about exploring how Christ might use it to bring me closer to him.  If you are like me and have either been a Christian for a long time, or are a new believer, but have never given lent a serious try, please join us in this exploration and see how God can use nature, fasting, and his Word to draw us closer to him!

Ash Wednesday 3/5/2014: Today I kicked off my exploration of lent; I have started with my fast from alcohol which will go on for two weeks. I also started a devotional and my “wilderness journey” hopefully all of these things will help me to spend time with Christ and listen to his will for my life as he continues to create in me a clean spirit. 

Devotional: Today in my devotional I read Joel 2:12-17 and Matthew 6:16-21 It was a good reminder of the purpose of fasting, which is to focus on the Lord, to humble your self before him and him only. We should not boast of our sacrifice or try to make ourselves seem holy to others. It should be a solemn time of reflection and prayer between my savior and me. Also it should be a time of reflection on sin and what Christ did to take care of it and what that now means to me. I think it is important for me to examine my life and appreciate the gravity of what Christ has done for me and now to live by it, to cast aside the sin that he has given me a way to escape from. 

Wilderness Journey: Today for my wilderness Journey I went for a walk to the coffee shop and then the park a few blocks away, sat and read my devotionals on a bench and then walked down a few streets back to my apartment. It was good, I am so thankful to live so close to all of this, that I can walk outside and just enjoy the historical area and the beautiful houses and parks. There were some birds, I'm not as well versed as Sarah to be able to tell you what they were, but I appreciated their company all the same. This is just a taste of nature, a park in the middle of an urban setting, but we can find the nature of God in everything around us if we are able to pay attention.

"But all night, Aslan and the Moon gazed upon each other with joyful and unblinking eyes"

Psalm 8:3-4

3          When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,     

                the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,     

4          What is man that you are mindful of him,                           

and the son of man that you care for him?     

The night sky is our oldest most inescapable window into the mystical. For as long as I can remember, the sight of the moon and her stars, in perfect clarity or obscured by fog and wisps of cloud, pulls me out of myself and into something heartbreaking and immense and unknowable. It is the universal reaction, I think. 

Like everything good, it's an analogy. The moon itself isn't to be worshiped - but it might reflect God's goodness, His immensity and beauty and mystery to us in a way that we can survive.

Full moon coming this week -- the only one we get during the wilderness journey.

Smash your tvs.

"The first Sunday of Lent, as I know, is a great feast.  Christ has sanctified the desert and in the desert I discovered it.  The woods have all become young in the discipline of spring: but it is the discipline of expectancy only.  Which one will cut more keenly? The February sunlight, or the air?  There are no buds.  Buds are not guessed at or thought of, this early in Lent.  But the wilderness shines with promise.  The land is dressed with simplicity and strength.  Everything foretells the coming of holy spring.   I had never before spoken so freely or so intimately with woods, hills, birds, water and sky.  On this great day, however, they understood their position and remained mute in the presence of the Beloved.   Only his light was obvious and eloquent.  My brother and sister, light and water.  The stump and the stone. The table of rock. the blue naked sky. Tractor tracks, a little waterfall. "

- Thomas Merton

I rose early this morning and heard the birds come in singing

3:35:  Field Sparrow “tew tew tew tew tew tewtewtew"

3:40: American Robin “cheer up, cheerily cheerily
3:45: Baltimore Oriole “Her, here, come right here, dear”
3:50: Indigo Bunting “sweet sweet chew chew chew”
3:55: House wren “churff churff churff
4:00: Rose-breasted Grosbeak “chink chink chink”
405: Brown Thraser “Drop it, drop it, pick it up pick it up”
4:05: Yellow Warbler “sweet sweet sweet I’m so sweet”
4:10: white eyed vireo “chick-a-per-weeo-chick”
4:10: Red-eyed vireo “look up, over here, see me, up here”
4:15: Northern Cardinal “what-cheer cheer cheer! Purty purty purty”
4:15: Eastern Towhee: Drink your teee drink your teeee”

Mark your calendar

The next Rappahannock Astronomy Club Star Party is on the 5th of April in King George! I will certainly be there. visit their website for more information

Bible Study

Here we go, guys! It is Ash Wednesday and I am filled with optimism and excitement. This week we will be meditating on Matthew 4:1-11 and John 21:15-19.  

Matthew 4:1-11 (ESV): The Temptation of Jesus 

4. Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ² And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. ³ And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” ⁴ But he answered, “It is written,

“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
    but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

⁵ Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple ⁶ and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,’

and

“‘On their hands they will bear you up,
    lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”

⁷ Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” ⁸ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.⁹ And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God
    and him only shall you serve.’”

¹¹ Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

                                                                             ~

John 21:15-19 (ESV): Jesus and Peter

¹⁵ When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” ¹⁶ He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” ¹⁷ He said to him the third time,“Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. ¹⁸ Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” ¹⁹ (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.


John 21 is a little perplexing, huh?
Why did Jesus question Peter's love and fidelity three times in front of the other apostles?  It must have caused Peter pain and sorrow since he had publicly denied Jesus three times (Matt. 26:74-75).  Now, filled with remorse he responds humbly, "you know i love you"
it is wonderful that even if we fail the Lord miserably, it is never too late.
This reminds me of 2 Corinthians 7:11.  I think it fits nicely here:
For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter

will this blog eventually turn into my contempo folk christian music blog? probably.

The Lenten season will officially begin tomorrow

 Oh God our Father We walk in the wilderness of our world, and face the temptations, which would turn us aside from the path of your will. let us not imagine Lent means merely letting off of little things- cutting out some candy- denying meat for vegetables and hurtful habits for a few hours. Lord God, help us see the meaning of the cross, until it's truth looms large enough to take away all sin. Until we love our Savior enough to part with everything except your will. for this we pray in the name of Him who gave up all for us  (amen).

~Wednesday, March 5th~

We have the privilege of welcoming Lent with snow on the ground this year! How perfectly beautiful and delightful, to be sure. Many birds are passing through our area in migration, too.
Tomorrow morning I will be hiking around at Caledon State Park.  I will be looking to encounter woodpeckers, eagles, swans and songbirds. I will also be meditating on some texts and scripture.  Please join me! I plan on arriving before lunch (say around 10:00) and wandering around for a couple hours.
If you can't make it tomorrow but would like to take a trip yourself, the areas in the park that i would be visiting are very easy to find.  Caledon Marsh is a great place to hear great horned owls at dusk, herons, red wing blackbirds and ducks
Boyd's Hole is the best place to see eagles.  you can almost always see an eagle.
Caledon Overlook holds a vibrant population of woodpeckers.
if you can make it out to Jone's Pond, you can see swans and wild geese* and little songbirds flitting around.
All of those areas can be accessed by bike, as well.
For those of you who don't know, I work at Caledon, so I also have access to a park vehicle.  If you don't feel comfortable hiking, i would be happy to come out with you sometime and take you out on a gator or truck!  I know a lot of neat spots!

God Bless,
s

*the wild goose is a Celtic symbol for the holy spirit, as it cannot be tamed or contained.  

Greetings world

Our mouths they were filled, filled with laughter

Our tongues they were loosed, loosed with joy

Restore us, O Lord
Restore us, O Lord

Although we are weeping
Lord, help us keep sowing
The seeds of Your Kingdom
For the day You will reap them
Your sheaves we will carry
Lord, please do not tarry
All those who sow weeping
Will go out with songs of joy

The nations will say, “He has done great things!”
The nations will sing songs of joy
Restore us, O Lord
Restore us, O Lord