The Battered Butterfly

I always find time to wander around in my garden at some point during the day. Usually the World has something to share with me .... well, always, but sometimes I'm too into 'doing' to notice. I've been trying to get a nice picture of a swallowtail butterfly all summer and the other day one was flitting around the lantana inviting my attention. I took a couple of nice images and it wasn't until I downloaded them that I noticed this lovely butterfly has had a few trials of it's own. Both wings were shredded.

How perfect! A perfect imperfection! If I care to look at anything deeply enough I'm sure I can find an 'imperfection' but isn't that what makes us special? Life experience can leave it's scars, but the healing, growing beyond and the wisdom learned that gives us our unique character.

Enjoy your life, little butterfly. You've earned it.

Remembering Our Heroes

On Memorial Day the thoughtful among us honor those American soldiers who have lost their lives in service. Young men and women who believed in their cause strongly enough to die for it.

There have been other heroes in our lives who may not have died on the battlefield but deserved to be remembered more the once a year none the less. Not necessarily to mourn their dying but to remember their living! People of courage and character who by their examples have offered us ways of living lives that are honorable and uplifting.

Perhaps we could even learn from them and honor them while they are still alive?