The Butterfly house is open once again for the State Fair. Over the next 10 days, thousands of visitors will walk inside and have all those brilliantly colored butterflies flying around them. They may even have one or more land on a should, head or outstretched hand. And here’s my fair-goers pro-tip…
You don’t have to pay (or subject yourself to the flying chaos) to see the butterflies. Just watch through the east side windows, with your favorite cool drink in hand. You’ll even see all the chrysalises lined up and new butterflies as they emerge. Of course, you can always stop by the brat stand just west of the Butterfly House entrance and say hi to Milt and/or Erika Warkentien.
All this talk about butterflies keeps me thinking about transformation. To understand the transformation that God makes available to us in the life of faith, we only have to look at the story of Jesus. The Apostle Paul understood this when he wrote to the early Christians in Rome, “…we were buried with [Jesus] by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4)
Living as ones claimed by God in baptism comes with some pretty nice perks, don’t you think? Having an opportunity for a start fresh, whenever it’s warranted or needed, and trusting that God’s love for us remains and powers us onward, carries a lot of benefit. This was a significant piece of Martin Luther’s epiphany 500 years ago and one he made sure to include in his catechism to help instruct and guide us.
As a young monk, Martin was plagued by concerns that he could never live up to the standards of a sin-free life. No matter how righteous he attempted to be, he was always aware of how much he fell short. But God’s grace, made available in the sacraments of baptism and communion, was the key to the puzzle. God’s grace set us free.
But as much as being transformed in the life of faith is about being freed from something (sin, hurt, discouragement, etc.), this new life is about being freed for a greater purpose. Today and as we move into the week ahead, let’s think about what all this grace-filled freedom is to be about. How will our freedom live up to the vision that God has set before us?
As you ponder this question, may God’s peace find you today. -Pastor Peter
Let us pray… God of transformation, each day you promise to make all things new. With this gift of new life, inspire us by this freedom for the sake of your world. Show us the people and the places we might share the blessing of your love. Amen.