This is a story I wrote for a storytelling class in seminary. I hope you enjoy it!
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Once, there was a big furry caterpillar named Simon. Simon was not only big, but he was the biggest caterpillar in the forest. He could stretch the length of a maple leaf, and when he curled up, he looked like a big furry button. Simon was the envy of all the other caterpillars, who saw Simon as the biggest and bravest caterpillar that ever lived. When summer would end, while all the other caterpillars were building their cocoons, Simon would prance around bravely. “Oh you poor little caterpillars!” He would say, “You aren’t big and brave like me. I do not hide myself during the winter, because I am the biggest and bravest caterpillar in the forest!” “We are not hiding,” they would always say, “We are going to be butterflies!” Simon would laugh and laugh. “Do you really believe that? I have seen butterflies, and they are not fuzzy and are not little, like you.” He would say. But even with all his work, no one ever stayed with him for the winter, when he sat sadly around, waiting for the spring.
One summer, Simon met the prettiest caterpillar he’d ever seen, Nancy. She was short and plump and had the softest silver fuzz. They became the best of friends and spent the whole summer playing among the flowers of the field. Soon, however, it came time for caterpillars to go into their cocoons. Simon refused, “I won’t go! I’m not afraid of the winter!” Nancy pleaded, “Please Simon, don’t be afraid!” Simon’s furry little face turned red. “I’m not afraid…I just don’t know how,” he admitted. “Have you ever tried?” Nancy asked. “No, but I know what the winter is like, it is cold and there’s no food. I’m big and I barely survive. I know I won’t survive in a little cocoon!” He said frantically. “ But how will you ever be a butterfly?”, Nancy asked. “You don’t actually believe that, do you?”, he asked back. “You’ll never know until you try.”, she said, and with a long sigh they both began to make their cocoons.
That winter was the coldest winter ever. Snow was thick in the trees and the lakes were paved with ice. But it is said that that next spring you could see a plump little yellow butterfly fluttering among the flowers of the field, with the biggest, brightest, orangest butterfly the forest has ever seen right beside her.
If we don’t step outside or our comfort zone and try something new, we will never fly.
