Kiss of Christ

When, within our souls and psyches

we are made aware of a safe but insistent drum beat,

repeated like butterfly wings in motion,

we sense the message…

that our inner self has begun its search for freedom.

Mary Meeker

The butterfly is a symbol of rebirth and freedom, and we sometimes forget the struggle it went through as a caterpillar prior to its flight.  There always seems to be a struggle that when endured, beauty is revealed.  According to Richard Bach, "What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly."

Standing in front of the church I had once attended with three little kids in tow, I was sharing a quick moment with an 80 year old woman who I viewed as a wise woman or sage.   Out of no where came a butterfly gracefully dancing around us and settling on my face.  My elderly friend immediately responded, "You have been kissed by Christ!"  Surely I had heard Christ referenced to butterflies before, but this was the very first time I felt deep meaning existing within this beautiful creature called a butterfly. 

From that day forward, I have truly loved all butterflies in all of their varying shapes and colors.  I sense their joy in newly found freedom, and admire the grace of their gentle flight.  So gentleness and freedom come first to my mind until this beautiful creature lands on me.  It is then I humbly embrace the "kiss of Christ" and the  reality of rebirth transforms me.

Spirit is Eternal

He who believes in me will live,

even though he dies;

and whoever lives

and believes in me

will never die. 

- John 11:25-26

Over the years, people have asked me who I would most like to meet, dead or alive.  My answer has frequently been Jesus the Christ.  The messages of Jesus were simply put: love your brother, embrace all peoples, heal the sick, love the children and respect the elders.   It does not matter to me where He was born, what time He was born, or if He were one of many masters.  Jesus the Christ impacted my life more so than any religious leader, adult, author or mentor.

Jesus the Christ has been a constant in my life even though my relationship with Him shifted throughout the years.  To me, Christ represents comfort, clear vision, and healing light.  I have loved Him dearly, shouted with anger at Him, and mourned in great sorrow with Him.  He has remained steadfast even when I was most lost and underserving.

I have never understood the labeling of "good friday" as to me it seems most conflicting.  As a child, I attended the stations of the cross as a very moving experience, but still "good friday" seemed most inappropriate. 

I preferred to focus my attention upon His life after death, the resurrection.  I don't know when Jesus the Christ actually died, but I do believe His spirit is eternal.  His truth became my truth ...

"whoever lives and believes in me will never die."

 Jesus of Nazareth as described in Wikipedia: 

"Scholars have offered various portraits of the historical Jesus which at times share a number of overlapping attributes, such as the leaderof an apocalyptic movement, Messiah, a charismatic healer, a sage and philosopher, or a social reformer who preached of the "Kingdom of God" as a means for personal and egalitarian social transformation.  Scholars have correleated the New Testament accounts with non-Christian historical records to arrive at an estimated chronology of Jesus' life."