I really do not find caterpillars all that interesting. It appears as though they eat too much and then simply pass the time until they get to be a beautiful butterfly. If I was a caterpillar, I am confident that I would be living my life in the future, and just waiting to get over with the ugly present. Mindlessly eat a bunch of leaves, sleep for an inordinate amount of time, and then get to be what I always dreamed to be—a butterfly instead of a caterpillar.

Or, do I actually live like a caterpillar? Especially in this season, do I only think about the future (with fear or Pollyanna hope) and miss the opportunity to live in the present? I know that I am missing out on the usual illustration of transformation with caterpillars, but stick with me on this living in the present idea. Do we live in the present, or are we always looking to escape it? God has provided us with gospel opportunities, discipleship investments, and leadership growth areas in the present messiness of 2020. But, we need to engage in the present and truly live in real time rather than waiting for a better year to embrace those opportunities.

I hope that we watch for opportunities for growth each day coming up. Growth as individuals and as churches. We are invited to flourish in the present—even in the caterpillar phases of 2020. Rather than only watching for butterfly days, let’s live out our caterpillar days with intentionality and passion.

And, speaking of opportunities for watching, please do not miss the continuing Virtual Conference Week smorgasbord of viewing options. Please go to https://archive.seventhdaybaptist.org/conference-2020/  for a full menu. Let’s live in the present while we Fix Our Eyes on Jesus.

Grace and peace,

Carl Greene, Executive Director, SDB General Conference of USA & Canada