Butterfly in the wind

It was a beautiful autumn evening. The Sky was full of golden, yellow, red leaves dancing in the wind, almost pausing for a bit in the mid-air before letting the wind carry them away. Almost therapeutic, I thought. The nature looked serene, most importantly calm as if nothing happened yesterday. My mind drifted to the crazy thunderstorm we experienced yesterday evening. As always, the day started beautifully with clear blue skies and Sun shining bright, but not so normal gushy winds developed in a thirty-degree and sunny day and the rest is history. I was in a grumpy mood as I made a decision not go out for my usual lunchtime walk as windy weather brings out the best of my hay fever.

I was just sitting outside in my workplace aimlessly staring at the massive gum tree in the middle of the compound drenched in rain that swept through the area in seconds. This gentle giant swaying its branches to allow the mighty winds to pass through. It was beautiful yet scary to watch. Please, don’t uproot yourself tree I muttered to myself. Then at that moment I saw it. This beautiful butterfly with orange wings and brown spots dancing in the wind. It is commonly known as the brown butterfly or Heteronympha merope (I looked it up later as I was curious), trying to escape the gushing wind. I watched it for few seconds feeling sorry for this little fellow trying to escape few times but in vain. The wind was too strong, too mighty, carrying its own tantrum tossing and turning the butterfly and it swayed like a helpless leaf in the wind.

Sam, the butterfly (I decided to call it that) was a good distraction for me as I was trying to find a way to kill the next thirty minutes of my lunch break. To be honest, it was hilarious to watch, I felt sorry for the little fellow at the same time. It struggled to release itself from the grip of the wind. But the mighty wind had other plans. It tossed Sam in mid-air then swirled it around, threw it in a whirlpool of wind, dragged it out of it the next second, threw it again and again. But Sam, our little fighter never stopped for a breather. It kept on trying to fly away. Its resilience was commendable. After prolonged tossing and turning, Sam stopped struggling just like that and simply let the wind carry it away! It happened so quickly, it took about a quarter of a second, I guess, but it felt like eternity. Everything stopped at that moment, I gasped… off Sam went in a whim!

I could not believe it. Wow! The little fella was gone just like that. Where it went? I have no idea. But it hit me at that moment, when life throws tantrums, try to carry us away and when life feels too much for us to handle, sometimes it is ok to just let the life wind carry us away.

I know it is natural for us to try and control the direction, not letting go of the little control we have left. But have you ever thought what if, what if we let go of the struggle and let the wind carry us? Easier said than done I know, and specially if you are like me, who likes to know where I am going and what is the next step may be, it is very hard to be like Sam, the brown butterfly, to trust life truly to land us somewhere softly, or even better, to land us where we meant to be!

You may ask, what if I land where I don’t want to be? Will I get hurt in the process? I do not know. It is hard to predict where the life winds may carry us or what our future may be. But seeing Sam, the butterfly in the wind made me realise that sometimes we need to trust. Trust the Universe, trust the goodness surround us, trust whatever that is true for you, even when we cannot see our next step, our big breakthrough, or when we cannot find the light at the end of the tunnel let alone have no idea where that tunnel may be!

For once, just let go of your control, your fears and struggles. Yes, there may be lots of things that can go wrong, and you might even get hurt in the process. But just for once, trust that everything is going to be ok and let the wind carry you away!

Off you go…

Cabbage moth I captured on the side of the road