By JERRIA MARTIN

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new,” 2 Corinthians 5:17 says.

This pericope reminds us of the inexplicable transforming power of Jesus. It calls us to remember the miraculous grace of God that refreshes us and makes us new.

It reminds me of one of nature’s greatest wonders, the life cycle of the butterfly.

You see, a butterfly starts its life as an egg. Next, the larva (caterpillar) hatches from an egg and eats leaves or flowers almost constantly.

Then the caterpillar molts (loses its old skin) many times as it grows. Next it turns into a pupa (chrysalis); this is a resting stage. Then finally, a beautiful flying adult emerges, from beast to beauty, all in a matter of weeks. Butterflies are nature’s miracles.

Did you know that these graceful creatures are very important to Selma?

On Saturday I had the privilege of bringing the invocation at the second annual Butterfly Awareness Day (BEAD) program, organized by Evelyn Cox, Ruth Shaw and the Dallas County Master Gardeners Association to celebrate National Butterfly Awareness Day, which is always celebrated the first Saturday in June.

This event taught us all about Selma’s Butterfly Queen, Mrs. Breeding, a devoted member of the local garden club and a tremendous ambassador of Selma. Did you know from 1982 to 1989 she chaired the successful effort to have the Alabama Legislature name Selma the “Butterfly Capital of Alabama,” designate April 16 as “Save the Butterfly Day” and designate the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail as Alabama’s butterfly?

Mrs. Breeding’s story inspired me greatly. I am most thankful for all of the wonderful things she has done to bless, lift and beautify Selma. We must learn from her that it is our own initiatives, under the guidance of God, that will bring hope to our communities.

Let us look to our butterfly queen and be hopeful in the face of Selma’s caterpillars.

Let us remember in our serving that we serve a God that makes beautiful things out of dust, brings light to our darkness and breathes life into our dead situations.

Lastly let us remember that there is not a problem, person nor city, not even Selma, that is too great for Christ to save or make new.

Best-selling author Richard Bach eloquently reasoned, “What the caterpillar calls the end of the world the master calls a butterfly.”

Thus, we must stay encouraged, keep working and keep faith in our God.

Because there is remarkable, phenomenal and extraordinary hope in butterflies.

Martin is the director of Hope Ministries and adjunct instructor of religion at WCCS.