From the desk of
®
JOHN BRADSHAW
November 2024
Dear Partner in ministry,
At It Is Written, we view people not as they are, but as they may become.
While walking near my home, I heard something fall to the ground with a light thud. As I looked around, I saw what I thought was a bug of some kind. About half the size of my thumb, it had small antennae, patterns that resembled eyes, and it rocked back and forth. Intrigued, I recorded a video and took several photos. Because I was so close to home, I showed my wife, Melissa, just moments later. Her response was direct. “Where is it? Take me to it right now. We have to save it!” I didn’t know that we had to save this strange creature, but I did as I was asked and escorted Melissa—container in hand—out into the street. Alas, the bug was gone. Just as we were about to return back inside, I saw the bug crawling towards our neighbor’s front yard. Melissa swooped on it, scooped it into her container, and a quick web search later, identified it as the pupa of an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly. She prepared a habitat where it would be well protected, and we watched and waited. Days passed, then what may have been weeks, and… nothing. Then, one Sabbath, I received a text from Melissa. She had sent a photo of a stunning Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly! A video showed Melissa and our daughter encouraging the butterfly to fly away, which, after a few moments, it did. Off it went, this marvel of creation, to brighten the world around it. What I saw while I was out walking was… a bug. An odd-looking, unattractive, bug. Melissa saw something completely different. She saw what it might become. At It Is Written, we view people not as they are, but as they may become. Every person alive is a candidate for the kingdom of heaven. Every single soul is someone for whom Jesus died.