The Butterfly

The Master knew that everybody has his or her own rhythm when it comes to growth. He used the following story to clarify this point to his students:

Once a man observed a butterfly that struggled to hatch out of its cocoon. The birth seemed to be painful to him, and he wanted to help the little animal. He began to blew his warm and friendly breath toward the butterfly. Indeed, he was successful in speeding up the process, and quickly the butterfly was able to hatch out. Now however, its fine wings stuck together! It soon died.

The Master closed by saying, "You cannot speed up the process of growing. Hastened growth is fatal."

Adapted from Anthony de Mello, Gib Deiner Seele Zeit