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“It’s Impossible”

…You will never be able to find a final answer to this question. Many, many people try. What I mean by many people is not a small group. Let’s put it this way, many people over many centuries have tried to answer this question. To show you the impossibility of answering this question we will use an insect. To be specific a butterfly.

What is the question?

Be patient.

To begin to prove this question is unanswerable, our first proof is timing. We could rewrite this article each August. The north central North American location from where this article originates, results in this marvel repeating itself in early August annually. There are times when no one can miss this spectacle. During these times there are hundreds of these butterflies to be found, everywhere you turn your head. The first days of August reveal no butterflies. But before August goes double digits, the population explodes. Our first proof is timing. No human can ever produce such immediate change in nature.

The second proof has whole earth testimony. This little butterfly can be found in every place on earth with only three exceptions. Those places are the two “A” continents south of the equator and the extreme cold place which begins with “A” north of the equator.  Think amazing…found everywhere but the extreme cold of Antarctica and the Arctic, and the isolated but large island with kangaroos; Australia. Take this question out of your conscience, now say it aloud: How can this earth-bound butterfly live in so many places? Don’t plants, animals, insects, even fish live in specific places. Don’t biologists call these places a “niche?” How can the whole earth be a niche for one species of butterfly?

The third proof, it migrates. But these migrate too, the Red Admiral, Cloudless Sulphur, the Monarch, and the Mourning Cloak. Think about a butterfly migrating hundreds to thousands of miles. Have you looked at butterfly wings? Have you considered how fragile they are? Now another, have you given consideration to the weight of a butterfly? Is your mouth open in awe yet? We could lump all the butterflies of the world as proof of the impossibility of answering this question-but we only need one. This marvelous little butterfly flies faster than you or I can run, at 30 mph. Remember, this is with butterfly wings. Have you come to the edge of impossible yet?  How many times stronger is a human being? The current fastest human runs at 28 mph…for 100 meters. This beautiful butterfly, in migration, flies up to 100 miles per day at 30 mph. Another impossible is now in sight: how does a butterfly navigate? Oh, combine this awe provoking question with this fact-this little butterfly migrates to many pleaces, ALL over the earth!

You need a name. We begin with the Latin name; “Vanessa Cardui” which translates in English as “butterfly of the thistle.” Don’t you delight in that?! Butterfly of the thistle…why? Because, the caterpillars of this butterfly feed on thistle. This is amazing-but impossible works better. Our butterfly is the Painted lady. And its caterpillars are spiny, and they consume the spiny plant fibers of thistles. This butterfly fits perfectly in a nature niche-all around the world. Would you eat thistles? Neither would I.

Impossible, eating prickly thistles?

Just think of it, throughout the inhabited places of the earth people of many different languages see Painted Lady Butterflies. And thistles grow world-wide…

Proof four…assembled body parts. All butterflies, including the Painted Lady must “assemble” their proboscis after emerging from the chrysalis. Butterflies construct the proboscis by using mouth parts called palpai located on either side of the two segments of the proboscis. These palpai are used to join the two parts of the proboscis. No butterfly could live long without a functioning proboscis. This is borderline impossible. Why isn’t the proboscis ready for them when they emerge from chrysalis?

Whether a Painted Lady, Monarch or another specie of butterfly, all bring delight to human eyes. And miraculously, they build their proboscis after emerging from the chrysalis.  

Last proof, its beautiful. Carefully examine a photograph of a Painted Lady. Notice how it is designed. Observe the furry abdomen and thorax. Compare the color pattern on the topside with the pattern on the underside. What colors are there? Try your own list. The exercise will only serve to increase your amazement, and understanding of the impossible. My favorite is blue. Why is there blue on the underside of the “Butterfly of the Thistle?”

Now friend, for the question-

Can we understand the work of God?

In a word-NO.

Our five proofs originated in ONE butterfly species. How many species of butterflies exist in the world? One source listed 18, 500 world-wide. All butterflies, yet EVERY specie unique. In fact, science does not yet know how many butterfly species exist in the world. Do you see? Can we understand the work of God?

The wisest man in world history, King Solomon of Israel wrote these words about God… “As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.” Ecclesiastes 11:5

Want some advice? Stop trying to understand God. Impossible and infinity are relatives and both describe God. A finite mind cannot comprehend the infinite mind of the Creator of the Universe.

There is one thing all of us can understand. We were made to understand love.

God is love.

He loves you.

He loves me.

He made the Painted Lady.

He put it all over the world.

“See?” He says, “I love you, and you, and you.”