Messy Goo is a stage of Life
Lets take three deep breaths together
breathe in
hold it for a second
then let it all out
again
breathe in
hold it for a second
then let it all out
one more time
breathe in
hold it for a second
then let it all out
Its biologically proven that we can listen and concentrate better after breathing intentionally.
How many of you know the life stages of Danaus plexippus?
which in Greek means "sleepy transformation"
the stages are
eggs, larva or caterpillar, pupa, what most know as the chrysalis,
and then the adult butterfly.
Monarchs, milkweed butterflies, or common tigers
typically have around four generations each summer.
The first three live around two weeks, each moving further north as they travel,
the fourth, the winter generation, can live almost nine months and they are the ones who fly to Mexico.
Butterflies are an Easter symbol,
though they could be a year round Christian symbol
the transformation from caterpillar to butterfly is radical
but not so complete that butterflies don't remember being caterpillars.
They do.
According to a study from Georgetown University, butterflies do remember some things from their time as caterpillars.
Transformation makes new things out of old things
but not everything old is lost.
If you want an end goal to the purpose of Christianity,
the religious practice of Christianity,
it is transformation.
Transformation is not a basic element of every religion,
but it is a basic element of Christianity.
Transformation from where we are now into the beloved community of God.
Transformation happens in many ways.
By working on our minds and hearts, renewing and learning
by being together in community, working and sharing together
by listening and looking, having revelations
both in our individual lives and collectively in community.
Through all of Jesus' teachings, you hear him pushing towards
transformation.
Jesus spent three years walking and talking and being with people in ancient Galilee.
Through all the teaching, healing, feeding, eating, cleaning, praying,
Jesus guided the people he encountered
towards transformation.
Subsequently, billions of people's lives have been changed because of Jesus' three years in ministry.
Transformation isn't just change though.
Transformation is harder than simple change.
Change happens to us. Change happens through us. Change is something we do.
Transformation is when we become something new.
We hear in the passages for today
we hear a bit about changes, actions and reactions
we hear a bit about community
we hear a bit about revelation
Paul writes, Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God.
Jesus asks the community of the disciples, 'Who do you say that I am?'
Jesus didn't just ask Simon Peter. He asks the community of disciples.
Simon Peter answers for the group, 'You are the Messiah.'
It is a revelation.
It is also a moment of transformation for the disciples.
They become the disciples of the Messiah in that moment.
We know its not a pretty transformation,
they still abandon Jesus when he is arrested,
but it is a truth they cannot run from.
They are the disciples of the Messiah
and it transforms them into the saints we know them as.
The love of God can transform peoples lives.
I've seen transformation happen.
The recipe, the equation, for transformation is simple
you plus me plus God equals unity.
the living of it, the actual change, changing of form and matter and daily life
is much harder
and messier.
If you think about the life stages of the monarch butterfly
the third stage, the pupa or chrysalis
is quite messy.
Its an outer shell with goo in it.
Everything that was the caterpillar, except what becomes the outer shell
turns into slimy messy organic soup.
When we think about personal or communal transformation
we want slow methodical and logical change.
We don't want messy goo.
Beautiful black and orange monarch butterflies
come from messy goo.
Transformation
is deeper and scarier than slow methodical and logical change.
To move from becoming a better person
to being transformed by the love of God
means cracking the safety of our souls
it means peering into the darkness within ourselves
saying hello to the demons that live in our hearts
forgiving them
forgiving us
it means moving from an individual mindset to a community mindset and then on to a unity mindset
recognizing that as Jesus and Paul and Peter and Isaiah knew
this is as important and urgent as eternity.
In transformation comes wisdom
wisdom to recognize the unity we need with all of the cosmic creation
unity we need with our breath,
the spark of life spoken into our souls.
Prayer, or meditation practice, or centering prayer, or contemplative prayer
any practice which starts with focusing on breathing and opens us up to the wider world in which we live
is the direct work of connecting to all that is around us
to transform us.
When we focus on our breathing
we recognize that all the world requires air, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen
we are all dependent on each other to keep the resource that keeps us alive
clean and healthy for all of us.
In her writings, particularly her book, The Interior Castle, St. Teresa of Avila
writes about the spiritual journey starting with breathing prayer.
She writes about how going inside yourself to connect with your body and soul
will lead to better relationships and better community,
to transformation into God's grace and love in this world.
This is one of those universal truths among most religions
that we are all connected, humans and plants and animals and our planet
we are connected and alive together in the same life
we categorize things in science in order to label them
but we are truly connected, all made of one being
God, our infinite Love who is the foundation for everything.
Whether we are a hatching egg or a hungry caterpillar
or perhaps the messy goo of a chrysalis
God calls us deeper.
To be transformed by love
by learning, growing,
by community, forgiveness, grace
so that some day
fully encompassed in wisdom and unity
we will all be beautiful butterflies
bound together in God's beloved community.
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