The Parable of the Butterfly

[juldea]

Once there was an entomologist who found a chrysalis and put it in a jar and took it home. He waited patiently while the caterpillar pupated. One day, finally, the chrysalis began to writhe as the new butterfly within struggled to break free. So keenly did the entomologist sympathize with the butterfly's plight, that he was moved to take a razor and slice a way out of the chrysalis for the butterfly.

But it turns out, it is the exertion of the struggle to tear its way to freedom which causes the butterfly's heart to beat fiercely enough to force blood through its wings, to stiffen and straighten them for flight. This butterfly's wings dried crumpled, and it was never able to fly.


Taken from siderea.