Strength from Struggle

The English botanist Alfred Russell Wallace, who lived about 150 years ago, was observing an emperor butterfly seeking to emerge from its cocoon. The scientist was struck by the butterfly's painful struggle and the length of time it was pushing, working to get free. He wondered, "What would happen if I assisted in the process?" So, he carefully cut down the length of the cocoon and watched to see what would happen. The butterfly emerged from the cocoon, spread its wings, drooped and died. Why? What happened?

The butterfly needed the struggle. It needed the exertion and the intense work required to extricate itself from its confinement. Otherwise, the fluid from its body would not be pumped into every part of its beautiful wings.

This is a principle of growth for all of us. How easy it is to want to rescue the young people in our lives we see struggling, rather than recognising that struggle is a necessary part of the maturing process. And that strength comes from struggle, not from taking the path of least resistance.

It also equates to our spiritual growth. The struggle that comes when we are confronted with ideas and beliefs contrary to our upbringing and faith tradition causes us to ask, “What do/should I really believe?”

While this is a key to growing spiritually, it’s painful to watch others wrestling with their faith. I’ve been guilty of cutting away the cocoon, trying to help others avoid the struggle, rather than letting them strengthen their wings.

This week, I’ve needed the reminder that faith grows in the crucible of crisis and struggle. I just need to be supportive, not domineering, as younger ones in the faith find their own way to toughen their wings and become the beautiful butterflies God intended.