Category: nature

  • The Butterfly Bush and New Creation

    While walking along the banks of the Vedder River on Saturday, we came across large patches of these pretty flowers. They reminded me of lilacs although I knew they weren’t. A quick search showed they were butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii), sometimes called summer lilac.

    They originated in China or Japan, were introduced into BC gardens, where they promptly decided they loved the climate and areas around riverbanks. They are now considered an invasive species.

    The butterfly bush blooms through most of the summer, and the long flower stems produce abundant nectar. That makes it very attractive to butterflies and bees.

    Of course, learning the name made us think of butterflies. I didn’t notice any while we were walking, but still they were on my mind. Butterflies are fascinating creatures. They start as fuzzy little caterpillars, pupate in a cocoon and emerge as beautiful, winged insects. They are delightful to watch and gardeners go to great lengths to attract them.

    That transformation made me think of our metamorphosis as Christians.

    Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

    Believers have heard it so often that it has become passe. I think we’ve lost the wonder in what Paul is telling us.

    We are freed from the clutches of death to spend forevermore with Christ. We are no longer slaves to sin. The Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us and seal us as belonging to God.

    The Lord (who knew us before we existed) continues to work in us to shape us into the image of Christ. He gifts us with faith and spiritual gifts so that our lives have purpose and bear fruit.

    It’s amazing stuff. A caterpillar becoming a butterfly is amazing. A sinner saved is so marvelous that the heavens rejoice.

    Rejoice in His great love for us.

    Kevin

    SUMMARY

    I found butterfly bush blooming along the Vedder River this week. It got me thinking about how becoming a new creation in Christ is its own kind of transformation.

    TAKEAWAY

    If you’re in Christ, you are already a new creation, not a work in progress waiting to become one.

    You’re no longer enslaved to sin. The freedom Paul describes here is meant to feel as decisive as a caterpillar’s change into a butterfly.

    The Holy Spirit lives in you as proof you belong to God, an identity that doesn’t depend on your own effort.

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  • Two bees or not two bees?

    Thoughts on Psalm 119

    I snapped this shot in the backyard recently for no particular purpose. I didn’t realize there were two bees inside the dahlia flower. One is quite visible; the second is almost hidden by the first bee and the flower petals.

    Our backyard is popular with the bees. Usually, I see bumblebees like these, and occasionally a honeybee. There are also plenty of solitary bees. There are more than 50 bee species that live in BC, most of which are quite small, and I just don’t notice them.

    I might be related to Winnie the Pooh because when I see bees, I think of honey. Bumble bees don’t make honey the way honeybees do. They make far less, not enough to be harvestable; still, in my mind, a bee equals honey.

    Thinking of honey brought to mind a scripture passage.

    Oh how I love your law!

    It is my meditation all the day.

    Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,

    for it is ever with me.

    I have more understanding than all my teachers,

    for your testimonies are my meditation.

    I understand more than the aged,

    for I keep your precepts.

    I hold back my feet from every evil way,

    in order to keep your word.

    I do not turn aside from your rules,

    for you have taught me.

    How sweet are your words to my taste,

    sweeter than honey to my mouth!

    Through your precepts I get understanding;

    therefore I hate every false way. Psalm 119:97-104 ESV

    Psalm 119 is devoted to praising the Law of God, its beauty and usefulness. 

    It’s an alphabetical acrostic poem, with its 176 verses grouped into 8 verse sections. The first letter (in Hebrew) of each section begins with a consecutive letter of the Hebrew alphabet: aleph, beth and so on. It’s a marvel of literary construction. It’s not the only alphabetic acrostic in the Psalms but is certainly the largest,

    More importantly, though, is its deep, resonant theme of the goodness of God and His Word. I wonder if we have the same appreciation for the Scriptures that the Psalmist did.

    I love reading the Word, but I confess I don’t always think of it as sweeter than honey. I can often find other things to read or fill my time with instead of the Scriptures.

    When I do read it, I sometimes neglect to consider it as a whole. It was written over 1500 years, on three continents in 3 languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek) by about 40 authors. Yet it presents an incredibly cohesive story.

    It’s a book that has survived many efforts to eradicate it and still remains the best-selling book in the world today. That doesn’t include the number of Bibles available as apps or online. It’s a trend that shows no sign of ending. In fact, in the US, the number of Bibles sold in 2025 doubled the sales of 2018. 

    Are you reading yours? Is it sweeter than honey? Are you applying what you read?

    Read the Word. Read the Word. Read the Word.

    Kevin

    SUMMARY

    Two bees hid in a backyard dahlia and got me thinking about honey and Psalm 119. It left me asking if I treasure God’s word as sweeter than honey, or just fill my time elsewhere.

    TAKEAWAY

    Is God’s word sweeter than honey to you, or do you turn to other things instead?

    Remember the Bible is one story, not scattered pieces, even though it took 1,500 years and about 40 authors to write.

    Are you reading your Bible? Are you applying what you read?

    #Dahlia #Bumblebee #ScriptureOfTheDay #BackyardGarden

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