By Rhea Zakich, Crystal Cathedral Lay Leader
It was my Sunday to be available to pray with people between our two services. As I greeted visitors in the front row, I saw something I'd never seen before inside the Crystal Cathedral.
A large butterfly was flitting above the heads of those who had taken their seats. I tried to stay focused on the woman who asked for prayer but could see the winged creature out of the corner of my eye.
Unlike any I had seen, the butterfly hovered for a moment before landing on the cheek of a woman in the first seat in the front row. Since I stayed in my place for those who were waiting for prayer, I could only glance, but I noticed that it remained on the woman's cheek.
Five minutes before the next service was to begin, I walked up to see it more closely, not really knowing what to say. It seemed silly to say, "Do you know you have a butterfly on your cheek?" Or, acting as if I didn't see it, even, "How are you today?" I knew she could not see it herself as it clung to her cheek under her glasses, but I could tell she was holding her head at an angle and didn't want to move.
I had prayed for Evelyn on two occasions in the last few years, but didn't know much about her. I knew she had performed in the church's huge Christmas pageant, The Glory of Christmas, for 27 years, and that she was very friendly, but that's about all I knew. I decided to ask, "What does it feel like to have a butterfly on your cheek?" She responded in a soft voice but with sparkling eyes, "It is caressing my cheek. I know this is from God because I feel such peace." Her expression was one of delight and bliss. She continued to talk, hardly moving her mouth so as not to disturb this angelic visitor. "My son, who died recently, always sat in this seat and I wonder if it could be a sign that he is with me." Now I remembered praying for her after her son's death and knew how she missed him. Even with her talking, the butterfly did not move. The congregation had filled most of the seats, now, and the choir began singing a stirring prelude called "All Breathing Life." I Knew I could not remain standing up in front of a thousand people, staring at a butterfly that those behind her could not see, so I smiled, squeezed her hand, and went to my aisle seat eight rows behind her. The people sitting around her began tapping each other and pointing. It was too strange! The pastors did not seem to notice since the pulpit is high above the large congregation, but I couldn't take my eyes off the tip of the butterfly's wing that I could still see through the crowd in front of me.
Everyone settled down when the service began but me. I thought, "There MUST be some important significance to a butterfly landing on a cheek and staying so long!" I hoped someone would take a picture of it and then, suddenly, I remembered that I had my camera in my purse. "Oh, but we aren't supposed to take pictures during the worship service," I thought to myself. In that instant, an idea came: "When we start singing a hymn, IF the butterfly is still on her cheek, I'm going to run up there and snap a photo."
The hymn began, everyone stood, except Evelyn. "Now's my chance," I thought, so I scurried up the aisle, asked her permission (knowing that the flash might cause it to fly).
She nodded and whispered, "I want to see this!" I clicked only once and ran back to my seat without knowing until I got home if I was able to capture it or if it would be blurred.
Much to my amazement and to those around her, the butterfly remained there for 40 minutes before moving to her shoulder for a moment, then taking flight. It went up, up, up in the fourstory high Cathedral before flying out the huge windows that had opened during the hymn. Those seated around her watched as it disappeared into the sky.
I know God speaks to us in many ways. He used burning bushes, writing on the wall, and even a donkey, so why could He not use a butterfly? Evelyn and I know it was one of God's messengers.
After church, I talked with Evelyn about what she experienced. She told me that recently she had been sinking deeper and deeper into depression since losing two sons in the last few years. Her grief left little motivation to come to church on this morning, but she came and decided to sit in the seat where her son always sat. Almost immediately, this beautiful winged creature made its way to her and landed. Evelyn said, "The moment it landed, even though I could not see it, I felt an amazing peace come over me. It was as though something was flowing into me. The sadness lifted, peace came, and I felt a new joy. I didn't want it to end! I know it was from God."
God does speak in mysterious ways!
Rhea, What a beautiful touch of God! Praise God for the many signs of His Spirit in the Cathedral-the New Life we have fasted and prayed for-people's lives being renewed! Thank you, dear Rhea, for capturing the moment and for all your prayerful support!
Oh, wow! That is amazing! I believe in butterflies and birds as message/clues/signs from the Holy Spirit.
