Caterpillars, Carpets, and the Good News

I found this little guy making his way across the hallway of our church. His camouflage intrigued me. He didn't just turn green, he matched all the shades of our carpet. How did he do that?

An hour on the Internet taught me that there are cells in a caterpillar's

body called chromatophores. These cells contain pigments and can be physically changed to create new colors.

What's more amazing is the caterpillar doesn't have to make any decisions. This all happens automatically.

These cells are sensitive to light. Our carpet reflects many shades of green. The reflected light strikes the chromataphores, and they respond automatically, creating all the same shades of color. Presto - green caterpillar.

The caterpillar is a kind of primitive camera. He makes no judgment calls, but only reflects the light from his perch. He does not think, he blends. They can't eat you up if they can't see you, right?

Lots of animals use camouflage for defense. Humans do too, and I'm not talking about hunting clothes.

Every day we are assaulted by information flying out of televisions and radios. The colors of our society bombard us at work and bathe us in the light of advertising and popular opinion. Want to blend in? Just learn to reflect the values of our culture, and you will be safe. They can't eat you up if they can't see you, right?

But we aren't called to be safe or invisible; that's the rub. We are called to reflect the light of Christ, who walked big and tall across this very earth and reflected no light but God's. Crowds split before him and stared as he went by. Their children ran to Jesus like ours run to butterflies and candy wrappers, attracted by the light and color.

Jesus let his light shine, no hiding it under a basket. Some people were changed and others were angry, but you couldn't miss him. No way this man blends in. He was a light shining in the darkness.

No, we who bear his name are not called to safety and camouflage. We are not called to sit on the surface of our culture, reflecting its light without question. We are called, as Jesus was called, to bring God's light into a dark world and to see with new eyes. We are called to be a burst of color, like a purple caterpillar on a green rug.

"But let your light so shine before all the world, that they will give glory to God in heaven."

Jesus said that.

Gordon