On The Fringe

When butterflies hatch at Frederick Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids Michigan, they do so in an indoor tropical paradise perfectly suited to meet their every need. The temperature & humidity are perfect. The food is a perfect balance of calories and nutrition to keep them healthy, no need to go elsewhere. Yet, some butterflies see the bright blue sky outside the conservatory and spend their days fluttering near the glass ceiling far away from the plentiful food supply. I want to say to those butterflies, "Don't you know everything you need is inside? The outside is cold and harsh, and you will die within minutes if you get what you are longing to have." I wonder if that's the message God has for me. So I ask myself, Do I look longingly at things that would harm me? Do I use my energy to gain what I need and shouldn't have? Do I ignore God's plentiful provision because I imagine that something just beyond my reach is better? Do I spend time on the fringes of faith? God supplies all our needs from his riches (Phil. 4:19). So instead of striving for what I don't have, I pray that I open my heart to gracefully receive everything I've already been given by him.