Life is Messy (and Magnificent!)

DSCF3545Lessons & Reflections from the National Butterfly Center

Today I met some new visitors to the National Butterfly Center. They marveled at the landscape and the sheer number of colorful butterflies flitting between the flowering plants, trees and shrubs. They asked, “What is this?” and “What is that?” They deduced, on their own, if you plant it they will come!

They inquired about our mission and the importance of preserves, like ours; at which point we talked about development, drought and disappearing habitat, the special role of native plants and the need for broad, community education.

As often happens, someone asked, “If you could only have one tree, what would it be?”

I answered, “The Anacahuita, or Texas Wild Olive. Butterflies and hummingbirds love it! It's drought-hearty and blooms large white flowers....

“That make a huge mess in your yard!” interjected one guest. He then confessed to removing two of them from his yard, recently, because he got tired of cleaning up after them.

If only he'd come here, first, I thought. If only he understood their purpose, perhaps the thin, crumpled, paper-white flowers littering his lawn would have been a lovely reminder of life and food and flight, instead.

(Disclaimer: OK, so this is where I have to admit that I am messy, often immersed in clutter, and sometimes a bit careless when it comes to appearances. I believe a disorganized desk is a sign of productivity and judge someone's capacity for creativity by the state of their surroundings. MESS does not bother me.)

Nature is messy. Life and death are, too. Terribly.

I prefer to look for beauty, and this approach serves me well. When I see things as they are, imperfect, dirty, crooked, crumpled—it's hard to see past the “mess.” This is especially true with people. But if a birdbath full of sh*t means the birds are here, how much better to focus on the birds?!

Ratty-looking, half-eaten plants? We have caterpillars!
Mulberry stained benches? I think I will walk down the trail for a tasty snack!
Holes to fill and hanging limbs? Armadillos, Indigoes, squirrels and skunks must be nearby.
Mud? Rain!
Mosquitoes? Hello, bats and Purple Martins!

As a wise woman once told me, "Really, what good is complaining?"  Cut it down. Clean it up. Wash, rinse, repeat. Because life is messy—AND magnificent.  Just take a closer look around.

 
 

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Inside the National Butterfly Center

Hours of Operation

Open 7 Days a Week 
8:00 - 5:00
364 Days / Year

Closed Easter Sunday

Come See Us

National Butterfly Center
3333 Butterfly Park Drive
Mission, TX 78572
956-583-5400
GPS Coordinates:
26.180243 -98.364973

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