Read Time:5 Minute, 5 Second

By William Van Zyl

Published October 16, 2025.

A family of Monarch butterflies are on their way to the annual gathering in Imaru’s Aigantighe—a mystical valley hidden between mountain peaks where millions of butterflies meet each year to rest, mate, and renew the next generation. The mother butterfly and the whole family of five are flying from Machu Picchu in South America, gliding gracefully over forests, rivers, and fields—a fragile beauty in motion.

High up in the sky, a large Airbus aircraft suddenly roars toward them, tearing through the clouds with thunderous speed—the father butterfly’s instincts flare.
“Dive, dive—aircraft ahead—to a lower airstream!” he cries.

In perfect synchrony, the family fold their wings and drops into the cooler air below. The wind buffets them as they spiral downward, the mighty machine passing just overhead. For a fleeting moment, their fragile lives hang in the balance. Then, the turbulence eases. The air grows calm. Slowly, they open their wings again—light catching the orange and black patterns as they rise once more toward the sunlight.

The mother whispers, “He sustains even the smallest of us.”

A migrating Monarch butterfly can travel an astonishing distance of up to 4,000 to 4,800 kilometres before reaching its destination. Under favourable conditions, a Monarch may cover more than 160 kilometres in a single day. These remarkable butterflies glide effortlessly on air currents, allowing them to move swiftly while conserving energy. Often, they soar at altitudes far above our sight—between 240 and 365 metres high.

I share with you what I have found today regarding sustainability. When I read this, I realised that there is a hand that opens and closes, influencing life on earth. All the different food chains are affected. See the interesting verses below.

The Breath of God in All Creation

Psalm 104:27–31 (KJV) says:

“These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.
That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.
Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.
Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.
The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works.”

Every flutter of the butterfly’s wing, every gust of wind that carries them, every leaf that feeds their caterpillars is a quiet testimony to the sustaining power of God. The psalmist understood that creation does not exist independently—it breathes because God breathes into it. The air we inhale, the water that flows, the seasons that turn—each is a note in the great symphony of divine sustainability.

Sustainability: The Ongoing Miracle

Modern sustainability often focuses on human action—how we can conserve, recycle, and restore. Yet, Psalm 104 reminds us that the foundation of all sustainability is God Himself. Before we ever spoke the word “ecology,” He designed an interwoven world of dependence and renewal. Monarchs migrate thousands of miles to perpetuate life; trees exhale oxygen as we inhale; rivers carry nutrients to oceans, which in turn feed the clouds.

Human sustainability is not separate from divine order—it is a participation in it. When we care for the earth, we align ourselves with the Creator’s rhythm, joining Him in the renewal of the planet He sustains by His Spirit.

The Call to Stewardship

Like the Monarchs who trust the unseen air currents to guide their flight, we are called to trust God’s wisdom in how we steward His creation. True sustainability begins not in technology, but in thankfulness and reverence. When we recognise that “Thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good,” we see the planet not as a resource to exploit but as a sacred trust to preserve.

In every fluttering wing, every forest breeze, and every drop of rain, God whispers the same truth—
“I sustain all things.”

Credit image: https://jesswandering.com/monarch-butterfly-migration-mexico-where-to-see-monarch-butterflies-in-mexico/

Credit: https://xerces.org/blog/5-monarch-migration-facts

Closing Reflection and Prayer

Reflection:
As the Monarchs continue their long journey toward Imaru’s Aigantighe, they remind us that creation depends daily on the quiet faithfulness of God. Every sunrise renews the covenant of His sustaining grace. Sustainability is not merely a human project—it is a sacred echo of divine order. When we plant a tree, clean a river, protect a forest, or design technologies that respect nature, we participate in God’s own joy as He “rejoices in His works.” (Psalm 104:31).

Let us live gently upon this earth, remembering that every breath, every heartbeat, and every harvest is a gift sustained by His Spirit.

Prayer for a Sustainable Earth

Creator of Heaven and Earth,
We thank You for the wonder of Your creation—
for the air that carries the butterflies,
for the seas that cradle life,
and for the soil that feeds both root and soul.

Teach us to see the world as You see it—
not as ours to possess, but as Yours to sustain.
Forgive us for where we have taken without giving,
and awaken in us a spirit of gratitude and care.

Breathe once more Your renewing Spirit upon the face of the earth—
heal what is broken, restore what is barren,
and guide us to live wisely,
so that future generations may also see Your glory
in forests, in oceans, and in every living thing.

For Yours is the earth, and the fullness thereof,
And in You, all creation finds its life.

Amen.