Why Can't Caterpillars Trust?

Funny you should ask.

As part of our orientation for JVC, we have had many sessions on various topics alongside a 2-day silent retreat we all just got back from. The morning after our silent retreat, we had a session on how to care for ourselves while in our countries, and how to serve from a place of spiritual/emotional/mental "abundance" as opposed to serving in a state of depletion. As part of this session, we participated in a simple walking meditation, walking slowly and focusing on each step we took.

One thing I noticed is that, as we take each step, we fall (very slightly) before we take the next step. As we put our front foot forward for every step, we have to trust that the ground will be there to catch us. And we do, every time. We don't walk on the sidewalk like it's a frozen lake, testing the ground as we go. We just walk, simple as that.

In reflecting on this, I was brought back to my time on silent retreat. During lunch our last day, I looked down at my shirt to see a tiny caterpillar on it. I'm talking as long as an eyelash, maybe shorter. Being a bio major and major nerd, I just watched it for a while. And I noticed that, before it moved, it would inch out, testing where it was about to 'step' before moving a muscle. It didn't trust (or didn't have the capacity to trust) its surroundings.

And that is why caterpillars can't trust.

I know it's incredibly random, but it is important for me as I go into country and into this experience. Trust will be crucial in the next two years. Recognizing my capacity to trust myself, to trust my community, to trust God, and to trust the Micronesian people is what will help get me through, especially during the challenging times.