The Next Right Thing...Lessons from the Monarch Migration
Every year Monarch butterflies migrate through southern California. To be honest I don’t know if I took much notice of it until last year. The abundance of rain we had meant that there was a noticeable and significant amount of butterflies making the annual pilgrimage.
Now it would be easy for the butterflies, if they thought like humans, to be angry and frustrated at the need for this trek. It’s not fair, they might reason, that they are victims of their circumstances, the changing weather. Additionally, single butterflies don’t actually make the full journey ( according to my internet research). Instead four generations participate in the complete cycle. In other words, individual butterflies will not even see the benefit of their choice to move, but their spawn will.
And here we are as humans in the midst of a pandemic, similarly forced to deal with circumstances not of our making. It is easy for us to become angry and frustrated at the need for social distancing. It’s easy to become angry and frustrated at people we think are completing the journey incorrectly or in a way that doesn’t suit our beliefs and agenda. It’s easy to become angry and frustrated at leaders who are not providing the hope we seek or who conversely aren’t being scary enough in their delivery to compel people to stay home. Yet like the weather for those beautiful monarch butterflies, none of this is within our control. And yet we actually being humans, have a choice. We can sit and stew in our anger or frustration or we can seek to be intentional about what we can control.
When I am out on a run, and I see the butterflies on their journey, it brings a smile to my face. Their response to their circumstances brings me joy. And we as Christ-followers are called to do the same. Our response to these circumstances can encourage others. And, like the butterflies, we may not see the impact of our response. The way we handle ourselves day by day and week by week through these challenges may not seem to matter until weeks or years or maybe even generations from now. It is possible that our choices in these challenging times may be more significant for people several steps removed from us and our immediate choices. And to make that long-term impact a positive one we simply have to do the next right thing
I get it. I feel frustrated, angry and annoyed at quite a bit these days. I don’t feel like doing the next right thing. I’m all wound up for a fight and I’m ready to fuel my words and actions with all this negativity built up inside me from my circumstances. But rarely, if ever will my long-term impact be positive if what fueling me is negative. Nor will I make a positive impact on those in my current circle of influence. Folks are not encouraged toward good deeds by words spoken in frustration and anger or actions taken in fear. Instead we as humans are best motivated, best encouraged towards good deeds by faith, hope and love. So while our fear, anger and frustration may be justified, it’s not healthy or holy to live there. Instead we need to look at how we can respond in such a way that we can encourage others.
Hebrews 3:13, one of my favorite verses reads, “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” How can you be an encouragement to someone today? How can you use this journey we are on, this journey none of us wanted or asked for, to encourage others? How is God calling you towards good deeds this week so you can spur others on to good deeds? This doesn’t have to be grandiose or a multi-step plan, all it means is you do the next right thing. And in doing so your positive approach to these challenging times may just put future generations on a better path.
