Innovation Blog

If You’re A Caterpillar, You May Become a Butterly — But CAN You?

By Shlomo Maital

(based on a Brazilian folktale, recounted by Rabbi Dov Hayun, at a Sabbath lesson)

      Once, there was a caterpillar — ugly as sin.  He was a good caterpillar, a leader of his tribe, highly respected and well-loved,  good at finding juicy leaves for his tribe, in the thick dark jungle.   

     One day a beautiful butterfly landed next to the caterpillar leader.

     “Hey!” said the butterfly.  “You can become like me!”

    “How?!” asked the caterpillar, with deep skepticism.

    “Wrap yourself in silk, build a chrysalis, become a pupa!” urged the butterly.  “You can fly!”  The butterfly described the sky, high above the jungle, and the sunshine, and the clouds.

    “Get lost!” the caterpillar said.  “You’re distracting me from my job, leading my tribe, finding food!  Did you think I would fall for your tall tales?!”

     The butterly flew away.

      Soon after, a bird caught the caterpillar in its beak and flew high over the roof of the jungle.  The caterpillar saw that the butterfly was right.  There was a blue sky!  There were clouds!  There was bright sunshine. 

       But an instant later, the caterpillar was stuffed into the beaks of the bird’s goslings….   and his life ended.

………………..

  Every one of us caterpillars may become a butterfly.  It is our own choice.

  But CAN we?

  Before it is too late?