Dancing Butterflies

We ourselves heard this very voice born from heaven…

2 Peter 1:18a ESV

There is little doubt that we are the most filmed, photographed, and fussed about generation that has ever lived. If you question that assertion, just watch parents at a playground. Little Buford does something that is mildly comical and quicker than quick-draw McGraw out comes the phone. But the madness doesn’t end on the tetter-totter. With lightning speed, the video or punchy little photograph is placed on Facebook, Tik-Tok, Instagram, Insta chat, or whatever newfangled thing is out there. Back when I was growing up, tick tock was something the clock did when you were dying in a high school classroom. Now granted, certain things need to be filmed and photographed, but everything? Really? Is there no secret place where the memory of a special moment is just hidden in the heart and not displayed for all the world to see? Is there no sacred ground where we take our shoes off and behold the burning bush?

I was recently in my backyard, when I saw two small yellow butterflies dancing together in the breeze. My first inclination was to run to my computer and discover why they were dancing. My second thought involved grabbing my cell phone so I could film the event. But then I came back to my senses. I decided instead to take in the moment and enjoy the show. The hand of God is in the little things as well as the big moments. The disciples discovered that truth.

The Apostle Peter penned two letters in the New Testament encouraging the believers of his day to stay faithful amid perilous times. He reminded them that they did not follow cleverly devise myths when he made known to them the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was referring to being an eyewitness of the majesty of God on the mount of Transfiguration. Peter heard the voice of God declaring, “this is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased.” His eyes saw Jesus glorified and his mind was recording every detail. Without a cell phone available to Peter, he absorbed every single detail to be regurgitated back out years later to people who needed to hear it. The scene was burned into the apostle’s mind and heart.

Have you ever considered the fact that your eyes are cameras and that your mind is a video recorder? Step into a dark room and flash the lights on and off. The room will come into clear view as you stand again in the dark. It is also believed that the mind never forgets anything. Our brains categorize every moment of our lives and deposits them in a filing system that would fill the sharpest accountant with envy. I’m convinced that we lose something as we look through the lens of our phones. When our children and grandchildren are at play, they need to see our eyes not the backside of our phones. God has also designed us to take the memories of our lives and use them in our future. Now go find some dancing butterflies.