Flight and Sight: Revelations in Butterflies, Airplanes, and Baby Names

By Desiree Glass

Never before—since I’ve been a teacher—have we had a two-week break from school for Christmas. While I hate that it means we’ll go to school longer in June, I have enjoyed the extra time that this break has given me—to prepare for Christmas and now to prepare for the New Year.  What I mean is I like to have a fresh start at the New Year.  I clean and organize.  In so doing, I’ve pilfered through piles of papers that I held onto for some important reason. On some slips I recorded journal entry-like ideas.  Thoughts I wanted to remember, to reflect on later—or ideas for writing.  Or perhaps both. 

On one slip I recorded: 

“Taking a break from my bookkeeping, I wondered about my Christmas card this year and the message I would enclose.  I wondered if I’d be able to announce good news about my book project.  I looked out my kitchen window and caught sight of a yellow butterfly fluttering by.”

How could I forget that moment!  It was one of those God-moments.  I caught my breath when I caught sight of the yellow butterfly.  While yellow butterflies were prevalent in the summer, it was unusual to see one in the fall.  But more wonder-ful than that was the fact that I had written about Addie dancing with yellow butterflies in my book.  Thank you, God, for the sign, I thought.  That must mean that I will have contracted with a literary agent by Christmas.

Well, I didn’t have an agent by Christmas, so in my newsletter I wrote about contacting some prospects and believing that I would receive good news within the month. 

Today is the last day of the month, the last day of the year.  I haven’t received good news from an agent yet, and it is doubtful that I will today, being a Saturday—and New Year’s Eve.

I lie prostrate across my bed in quiet meditation and peer out my bedroom window.  I catch sight of a shiny silver plane flying by.  I wonder where the passengers are heading.  They know.  They have an itinerary.  I wonder where I am heading.  I don’t know.  But God has an itinerary.  Like Abraham when called to leave Ur of the Chaldeans, I must trust God and go where He leads, even though I don’t know where I am going.

I think once again about my notes scrawled on that slip of paper—“good news about my book project.” 

I did have good news about my book project! 

The name of my main character was confirmed.  Yes, it was truly good news!

If you didn't read the good news about the name in my online version of my Christmas newsletter, see the following excerpt.  And isn’t that what Christmas is all about?  The Good News!

Behold, Tara has conceived in her womb and will bring forth a daughter in February, and shall call her name Addison Ella. What a beautiful name! Addison is Tim’s grandfather’s (my father’s) middle name, and Ella is Tara’s grandmother’s name. (And by the way, my father’s birthday is in February. Who knows, maybe the baby will come on his birthday!)

But Addison is more than a beautiful name—it is a name chosen by God. The main characters in my book The Prettiest Sight to See are Addie (short for Addison) and her grandmother. As I mentioned, I started my book three years ago. Tim and Tara had never read it, nor did they know the story line or the characters’ names. To say that I was awestruck when they revealed their chosen name is an understatement. It was certainly a God-moment. He is so good!


Also as quoted in my newsletter, the heavenly herald announced:

“I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!”—Luke 2:10-11

Yes, God sent His only Son to be our Savior.  My Savior.  Your Savior.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”—John 3:16

God had a plan for all of mankind.  He has a plan for me.  For you.  For Addie.  All of our days have been fashioned for us before any of them came to be.

 For You formed my inward parts;
         You covered me in my mother’s womb.
 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
         Marvelous are Your works,
         And that my soul knows very well.
 My frame was not hidden from You,
         When I was made in secret,
         And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
         And in Your book they all were written,
         The days fashioned for me,
         When as yet there were none of them.—Psalm 139:13-16

And He wants those days to include Him.  The One who formed you is calling you to Himself.  He knows your name and is calling you unto salvation. 

“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. —Isaiah 43:1

Do you hear Him calling?  Answer the call today.  Accept His gift of salvation.  It’s free! 

Now there’s a reason to sing!  A reason to dance!  A reason to soar!  Something to celebrate this New Year!

“Let the whole earth sing to the Lord!
      Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.”—1 Chronicles 16:23

Thank You, God, for giving me eyes to see the truth of Your Good News.