Reemergence: Blossoming and Becoming

As both the calendar and clock signaled to us, this was destined to be a week of change. Right on schedule, changes took hold and are prompting many of us to Spring forward as well.

Yesterday brought us the true seasonal change of the equinox. This is the beginning of the spring season in the Northern Hemisphere and the autumn season in the Southern Hemisphere. 

On this date the sun rises due east and sets due west as it crosses the equator. Here in the Northern Hemisphere, each March is our Vernal Equinox, because it signals the beginning of Spring , as vernal is defined as fresh or new like the spring.

Spring of course is also a very symbolic time of year, so yes I’m finally getting to what this all has to do with our shared paths on this edition of “Becoming Today”.

Spring is a time of reemergence. It signals the shifting of life’s processes of reemerging from the “Depths of Dormancy” and causing us to blossom once more.

Looking at some of the traditional symbols associated  with this seasonal change, it is easy to see why this time of year is ideal to “bloom where we are planted’. 

Spring has generally been accepted as the start of something new,  a time of new beginnings, a period of progress, the blossoming of new things, birth, growth  and creating new life.  All very “Becoming” aspects.

Throughout the ages, poets, philosophers and theologians have looked at Spring as a time to refocus on fertility, rebirth, renewal, creativity, rejoicing, self-expression, productivity and transition.

These are all forms of new beginnings like the ones we may envision for ourselves.

As the season changes we are preparing ourselves for a time of awakening, blossoming and reemerging. In the Scriptures, Ecclesiastes chapter three, verses one through eight compromise the passage often referred to as “A Time For Everything”. This outlines the many changing seasons we all experience in life, giving structure to the constant cycle of “Becoming”.

In fact 28 specific times or seasons are mentioned  in this one passage.

There is much wisdom to be gained in understanding this concept of “There is a time for everything, / and a season for every activity under the heavens.”

When we live our lives in faith we are “Becoming” our destinies as we comprehend and embrace the power in always trusting God. Our lives truly reveal their meaning and purpose when we rely on His wisdom, timing and goodness.

Much of “Becoming” involves embracing the need for change, it is the only way in which we can truly grow, develop and realize our destinies.  Life is a process. A repetitive one. We learn, grow, become then question, learn, grow and continue “Becoming”.

With this reemergence of blossoming and “Becoming”, we are being granted the potential for momentous change and growth. Are you ready? Are you willing to accept this time of transformative transition”?

In order to do so, let’s make sure we are communicating clearly with each other. 

Let’s begin by examining this phrase of Transformative Transition. 

Transformative is defined for our purposes as “causing a marked change in someone or something.” Meaning a significant, noticeable, appreciative difference.  

We are talking about a potentially life altering transformational reframing of our lives, circumstances and maybe even our very definition of our Self.

Transition can be explained as “the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another”.

So let’s agree to understand Transformative Transition as a period of life altering change. Fostering growth, unlocking new opportunities, learning new behaviors and coming into acceptance with new ways, attitudes and truths. It is a time in which we can choose to alter our realities for the better. 

So how do we accept our time of Transformative Transition?

For me it’s viewing this as a metamorphosis. 

That involves an understanding of the cycle of these life-altering transitional developments.

Let’s begin with developing our shared definition of metamorphosis by looking at the origins of the word. From the late Middle English: via Latin from Greek metamorphōsis, from metamorphoun ‘transform, change shape’.

When it comes to changing our “shape” we’ll consider it in regards to distinctly different characteristics. This includes all four aspects of life, something for years I’ve referred to as P.I.E.S. 

Physical: Taking care of your body. Eating healthy, exercising, strengthening and conditioning to remain agile and flexible. Seeing that you are remaining disease free or taking proper steps and treatments, therapies, etc to ensure you are recovering.

Intellectual: Tending to your mind as well. Maintaining cognitive functions and abilities as well as having right thoughts. Keeping yourself motivated for the momentum to “Always Be “Becoming”.

Emotional: Maintain balance and control over your emotions. Celebrating the highs and guarding against the lows. Ensuring your mental health is fit as well.

Spiritual: Are you involved in a daily spiritual practice? How do you see yourself in relation to creation? Do you need rituals? Traditions? All very personal questions for yourself to consider.

In order to embrace these changes our metamorphosis will be defined slightly differently on each level . However, just like one of the best known symbols of transformation, the Butterfly, we can accept that our change will also come in four distinct stages.  

From the purposes of the stages of the butterfly life cycle (which I found at this site), I found interesting spiritual analogies.

EGG

First, the caterpillar hatches from the egg.  Just as all earthly life begins with a birth, spiritual life also begins with a spiritual birth.  (John 3:1-8 To be born again)

CATERPILLAR

The main purpose of the caterpillar stage is feeding.  In order to bring about the great transformation, a caterpillar must eat and store enough food to grow strong and support the change.  In order to be changed spiritually, we must also feed greatly on the Word of God, the Bible. The Word is what renews the mind and brings metamorphosis.

PUPA

The pupa stage is the transition.  During this time, the caterpillar grows the wings, legs, antennae that make up the butterfly.  As a Christian, we also are in transition.  As we feed on the Word, we develop spiritual attributes that weren’t present in our former worldly self.  Spiritual fruit and desires arise that give evidence that we are not the same as we were.

BUTTERFLY

The beautiful, gentle butterfly stage also has a main natural purpose– to reproduce.  Isn’t that also the purpose of believers, especially those who are mature and Christ-like? As it references in Mark 16:15 (ESV), ““Go into all the world and proclaim”.

As we embrace our time of Transformative Transition, just as the biological explanations of metamorphosis note we are accepting a profound change from one stage to the next in our lives. This can entail a complete change of form, structure, or substance, as well as differences  in  our appearance, character and intentionally intervening to react differently and either accept or deny your present circumstances.

My acceptance of this process followed this step of phonetically breaking down the word to Meta-Morph-Us.

Meta: denoting a change of position or condition; from the Greek μετα-, meta-, meaning “after” or “beyond”, is a prefix meaning more comprehensive or transcending.

Morph: change smoothly from one image to another by small gradual steps 

Us: You and I; “we” -our collective identities along the shared steps we undertake along this journey. 

There are other translations which include the word, metamorphoo, described as “transformed”. Something the Scriptures in Romans 12:2 explains as necessary:

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

In this verse the Apostle Paul instructs us that we should not remain the same. Accepting this new way of living requires “transforming” from one who lives and acts just like the rest of the world into one who lives by higher, compassionate, merciful standards of compassion and love.  This “metamorphosis”, is the renewing of our mind.   

The individual ways you can realize our own Transformative Transition will vary greatly. No two people are alike, nor are we created to be the same. Embracing our differences and affording each other the compassion, dignity and respect which we are due ourselves will help to form our own maps along this journey.

I myself am ready to become a Butterfly. Spread my wings and take flight to higher altitudes with better attitudes, more clearly defined actions and pollinating creation with as much love as humanly possible.

As I embrace this new spring forward in my life, I am already accepting the need for and implementing change in my life and this project.

The life changes we’ll discuss further as the week progresses, the changes here begin tomorrow.

For the next six weeks, I’ll share Turning Point Toosdays. Starting tomorrow and continuing once  a week on Tuesdays through the end of April, our discussions will revolve around a topic that I hope will inform and help to better illuminate our shared path.

Then on Thursday, we’ll revisit a very  enlightening series I came to understand last summer during “My Revival”. It was as a result of this trip that I came to the revelation-knowledge of what I termed  the “8 Points of Light”. As it can be quite a lengthy study, we’ll take one point each week for eight successive Thursdays. 

Fridays will also see an update. I’m thinking of them as ‘Free Form Fridays”. A little different from our regular conversations, each week I’ll take this day to share random thoughts, observations and updates to a multitude of issues we may be encountering.

Growth is good. Change is constant. As for what turns up next, make sure you decide to stop by and join us tomorrow, on our next edition of “Becoming Today”.