The butterfly is one of the cherished symbols in Christianity. The butterfly is a symbol of the resurrection of Christ Jesus. And the wide variety of butterflies in the world gives testimony to the diversity in the world Jesus loves unto this day. I have seen a lot fewer butterflies this year than what I’m used to seeing in rural/small town America. In the cities, well, no big surprise. (But yesterday, Marge & I spent part of our 23rd wedding anniversary at Hidden Valley Lake where butterflies—while not exactly plentiful—were in good supply.)

We hear and read about monarch butterflies suffering catastrophic losses in their numbers in recent years. That species is not alone when it comes to being threatened; and since we as humans are called upon in Genesis to care for the earth, it is our responsibility to balance our desires with the needs of our fellow species. When we approach striking that balance, it turns out that we end up helping ourselves.

While there’s a shortage of butterflies in southwest Virginia—both in numbers and in diversity this year (near as I can tell), there are still a few that come our way; and I offer you a photograph of one: a cabbage white butterfly perched on a zinnia near Abingdon’s public library. Enjoy! And think of Jesus. — Pastor Bill–