June 28, 2020. The observations continued today as we traversed the Ice Age Trail. We thoroughly enjoyed the wild flowers of the prairie! At times, it felt like the most beautiful scavenger hunt. We searched for a purple cone flower amidst the white flowers and a lone sunflower on the horizon.
In addition to the beautiful flowers, we experienced an open air butterfly garden. Well, it wasn’t a designated garden so much as an area outdoors with butterflies ALL AROUND (and at times on) us.
Despite the fact that each of us REALLY wanted a butterfly to land on us, we soon realized we had no control over the butterflies. The butterflies were going to come and go as they please. Our willing them one way or another would not change that. It merely left us sad and resentful that things weren’t the way we wanted them to be. Today, the butterflies taught us about surrender and acceptance. We acknowledged that we do not have control over the butterflies. In doing so, we felt more stillness and peace. Not long after, butterflies DID land on us all (and one even traveled on Nick’s backpack all the way back to the car).
It doesn’t always work out this way though. The butterflies won’t always land on us. Surrender and acceptance are not means to an ends. They are a way of living and being.
In days filled with worry about racial injustice and COVID-19, it feels all the more important to practice surrender and acceptance. Acceptance does not mean complacency and surrender does not equate to giving up hope. On the contrary, we feel empowered as we surrender and seek guidance from a God whose heart also breaks for injustice. In doing so, we feel renewed in our fight for equality.
Through acceptance we acknowledge that we (KNEP) cannot find a treatment for COVID-19. Yet, we can socially distance, wear masks, and wash hands. For us, in this moment, surrender and acceptance do not make us powerless. Rather, we find strength and power as we surrender our will and trust our lives to the care of a God who loves us.
And, sometimes, the butterflies do land on us!
KNEP Hikes 