An interesting fact is that a caterpillar on its way to becoming a butterfly eats voraciously. It devours everything in its path by using powerful jaws and teeth, and is very destructive to certain types of crops. However, once it goes through the metamorphosis to become a butterfly, it is unable to cause harm to anything because it has no apparatus for chewing. It can only sip.
The butterfly becomes a model citizen, helping in the pollinating process. Pollen from one tree sticks to its underbelly while the butterfly drinks the nectar from its blossoms, and is then deposited on the next tree as it stops to sip. Farmers depend on butterflies for this cross pollinating of fruit trees, and the once crop devouring caterpillar, which is a financial nightmare to farmers, becomes an equally beneficial ally as the socially conscious butterfly.
No wonder butterflies are used as a symbol for spiritual transformation. How often we see a similar process in people we know and even ourselves—the movement from unconsciousness and unkindness to becoming aware of our real opportunity to contribute and make a meaningful difference by being of service.