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The Dragonfly Story
In the bottom of an old pond lived some grubs who could not understand why none of their group ever came back after crawling up the stem of the lilies to the top of the water. They promised each other that the next one who was called to make the upward climb would return and tell what happened to him. Soon one of them felt an urgent impulse to seek the surface; he rested himself on top of a lily pad and went through a glorious transformation which made him a dragonfly with beautiful wings. In vain he tried to keep his promise. Flying back and forth over the pond, he peered down at his friends below. Then he realized that if they could ever see him they would not recognize such a radiant creature as one of their number. The fact that we cannot see our friends or communicate with them after the transformation which we call death is no proof that they cease to exist.
by Walter Dudley Cavert: "Remember Now: Daily Devotionals for Young People" (1944)
Walter Dudley Cavert was born on 18 January 1891 in Charlton, Saratoga County, New York, United States of America. In 1915, he became an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church. He was married on 17 July 1916 to Harriet Harrer (1890 - 1973). In 1918, he served as a chaplain in the United States Army with the rank of Lieutenant, and was later a reservist with the rank of Captain. His published works include, “Ours Is the Faith” (1960), “Prayers for Scouts” (1964), and “In the Days of Thy Youth: Devotional Readings for Young People” (1971). Walter Dudley Cavert passed on at 94 years of age on 1 January 1986 in Cumberland, Allegany County, Maryland, United States of America.
In the bottom of an old pond lived some grubs who could not understand why none of their group ever came back after crawling up the stem of the lilies to the top of the water. They promised each other that the next one who was called to make the upward climb would return and tell what happened to him. Soon one of them felt an urgent impulse to seek the surface; he rested himself on top of a lily pad and went through a glorious transformation which made him a dragonfly with beautiful wings. In vain he tried to keep his promise. Flying back and forth over the pond, he peered down at his friends below. Then he realized that if they could ever see him they would not recognize such a radiant creature as one of their number. The fact that we cannot see our friends or communicate with them after the transformation which we call death is no proof that they cease to exist.
by Walter Dudley Cavert: "Remember Now: Daily Devotionals for Young People" (1944)
Walter Dudley Cavert was born on 18 January 1891 in Charlton, Saratoga County, New York, United States of America. In 1915, he became an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church. He was married on 17 July 1916 to Harriet Harrer (1890 - 1973). In 1918, he served as a chaplain in the United States Army with the rank of Lieutenant, and was later a reservist with the rank of Captain. His published works include, “Ours Is the Faith” (1960), “Prayers for Scouts” (1964), and “In the Days of Thy Youth: Devotional Readings for Young People” (1971). Walter Dudley Cavert passed on at 94 years of age on 1 January 1986 in Cumberland, Allegany County, Maryland, United States of America.
The devotional was first published in 1944 and was written, along with the dragonfly parable by my grandfather, Walter Dudley Cavert.
Peace be with you,
Mark McDaniel
Someone inquired about using this poem as a permission and we noticed it's being used in a lot of places - maybe with an old permission request, or probably not at all. This is copyrighted material. Please get back with us. It is a great resource and wouldn't want to limit it, but we just need to verify you as the heir and see what we can agree to on the permission request we have pending. Thanks! Peggy Shearon
Thank you,
Carol Dickinson Daniell