Personal Transformation – The Vehicle Behind Societal Transformation

I believe that you have heard this statement several times – “You can’t give what you don’t have!” I also believe that you have agreed to its meaning. You are not alone. I also believe this statement, whether it’s referring to a physical item or otherwise.

So, I believe that societal transformation is an end result of personal transformation, meaning that the society receives transformation from individuals who have been transformed.

Join me and let’s explore what transformation is.

Visualize with me a butterfly flying around swiftly, smoothly, and freely. Pause and just savour that moment. You know butterflies have all these different blends of colours – so imagine you are watching one with your favourite blend. Pause again. What effect did your seconds or minute of watching the butterfly have on you? For me, it is the most refreshing experience of mind – firstly, it’s beautiful; then the ease with which the butterfly flies frees the mind from probable barriers or blocks that hinder constructive thought processes. Then there is the freedom! Oh, I love its navigation agility.

Stay with me and let’s explore further – what does it take to get the butterfly to that stage of beauty, swiftness and freedom?

A butterfly goes through metamorphosis before it gets to its final fascinating stage of freedom. It goes through three distinct stages – caterpillar (larva), pupa, and finally becomes an adult butterfly. According to the American Museum of Natural History (https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/butterflies/metamorphosis), at the caterpillar stage, they eat a lot, sometimes even their own skin. Noteworthy, however, is that they ‘camouflage’ – meaning that the caterpillars ‘store the toxins in their bodies.’ Now, I don’t like caterpillars; in fact, I fear them.

During the next stage, the pupa stage, they ‘wrap themselves in a silk covering called a cocoon.’ Pupa don’t move or eat! During this process, called metamorphosis, body tissue breaks down and reforms as wings, legs, and other adult parts.

And finally, “When it’s fully grown, the primary goal of a butterfly or moth is to disperse and reproduce, using scents and elaborate aerial dances. For some butterflies, the lifecycle takes place across entire continents. Every few generations, monarch butterflies fly over 2,000 miles (approximately 4,500 km).”

If you ask me, that’s real transformation! If you saw a butterfly without prior knowledge of the process, you would never imagine that it was once a caterpillar or a pupa. For it to be able to travel the world sharing its scents and magnificent dances and sights, it has to undergo the transformation process.

Friends, to transform one’s sphere of influence, and ultimately the society, every individual needs the same kind of transformation. An overhaul of some sort. I wonder what ‘eating of self’ relates to – perhaps moments of seclusion so as to hear God? How about the ‘breaking down of some body parts’ – this is a hard one – but think of the self-nature we have to let go of in exchange for the God-nature.

It is absolutely interesting to learn the butterfly’s goal at its adult stage: to fly around the world dispersing its scents – and reproducing! Oh, Waaoh! That is transformation! And you know what, we are called to fly around our world, with the message of hope, encouragement, healing and ultimately total transformation. Transformation that has resulted from our alignment with the purposes and will of God, His desired goal for us so that we can share the same with others. See what God’s Word says in Romans 12:2 (AMPC):

Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

Transformation as described above gives us the Christian Worldview. Nancy Pearcey in her classical book, Total Truth, wrote: “A major dividing line separates the non-Christian worldviews from Christianity—that is, what each one believes about Jesus Christ, the redeemer and transformer of the world.”

You and I, abiding by the timeless values of the Lord Jesus Christ, are positioned to serve as his representatives (transformers)! Can you envision that? Can you see a transformed Kenya and the world we would be in if each of us chose to abide in our renewed (transformed) state? Can our books fly around the world sharing this message?
The question to ponder over and answer as you complete this piece is: ‘How do I, through the transformation I have received through Christ, transform another person? A fellow author, a colleague, a sibling, a friend, a spouse or a child?

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:14-16).

Go light your world! Go transform your world!