The Butterfly story

Sometimes the miracles that God grants us are great signs for the multitudes, while others can be smaller and personal, but still miraculous signs of His Love and Mercy. My husband Greg had such an experience, and we like to call it the ‘Butterfly Story.’

It really began with our first trip to Medjugorje in the fall of 1990. We were climbing Cross Mountain, which is a large mountain in the village with the stations of the cross along the way, and a giant cross at the top. We had decided to climb it at 4:00 in the morning and arrive at the top by sunrise. As penance for his close friend Pat who was paralyzed, Greg decided he would climb the hill barefoot. The ice on the puddles definitely made Greg reconsider his decision to take his shoes off! But as we arrived at the bottom of the hill, he felt a strong pull to remove his socks and shoes and start up the hill. Because of the frigid cold he moved ahead of the rest of us in the dark.  He finally got to a point where he was just exhausted, and he turned on his flashlight. Not sure where he was, and as he looked up, his flashlight was shining on the 12th station…Jesus dies on the cross. He began to cry and experienced the overwhelming love of Christ, and realized Mary’s purpose in coming to Medjugorje was to lead us back to Her Son.

Greg’s life dramatically changed after returning home. He began to pray more, attend daily Mass, and share his amazing experience in this miraculous village. However, shortly after our trip the war in Bosnia began and he figured he would not ever be returning to Medjugorje again. But the Lord had other plans for him!

In the mid-nineties Greg attended a weekend retreat with his friend Joe. While praying at the outdoor stations of the cross, he once again had a special ‘God moment’ at the 12th station. He looked up at saw a butterfly sitting on Christ’s shoulder opening and closing its wings. He remembered his conversion moment in Medjugorje, and felt it was a beautiful sign from the Lord.

Later that night while walking down the hall in the late hours, Greg saw another retreat participant and they began a conversation about what had brought them to the retreat. When Greg shared his faith journey and mentioned Medjugorje, she excitedly said, “I want to go there so bad. Have you been there? I would do anything to get a chance to go there.” Out of Greg’s mouth came the words, “Well I’m planning a trip there.” After he said it, he was dumbfounded. He had no intention of planning a trip, as the war was still going on.

The next day during the retreat, there were more surprises. The woman had told others that Greg said he was planning a trip to Medjugorje, and now he had many people coming up to him giving their phone numbers and contact information because they wanted to join him on the trip! As he and Joe drove back to Davenport, he asked Joe if he saw what was going on. Joe said, “Yep!” Greg said he had no intention of going, that it was too dangerous with the war, and had no idea why he said that. Joe, being a faith filled man close to God, said, “Well, you better pray about it.”

Greg did pray. He said he normally wouldn’t ask for a sign, but for a decision such as this, he needed some clarity. He prayed, Lord, if you really want me to organize a trip, I need to see something I’ve never seen before. Recalling the butterfly on Christ’s shoulder at the retreat, he thought, “Okay, Lord, if I see a butterfly on the dashboard of my car, I’ll take a group of people to Medjugorje.”

At that time, Greg was in sales and traveled a lot. This was the old days, before cell phones, and if he had to make a call it was at a pay phone. He admitted he purposely kept his window up that fall, because he really didn’t want to organize a trip! After several months, he had pretty much forgotten about it. Butterfly season is over in Iowa by late October, so he felt certain he wouldn’t be taking that trip. Then in early November, he pulled up to payphone in Illinois and reached out to punch in his credit card number to make a call. As he pulled the phone back into the car he looked up and right there on the dashboard of his car was a butterfly. Needless to say, he began making phone calls to arrange the trip.

After arranging and making that trip in 1995, Greg continued to organize pilgrimages to Medjugorje. He often says his trip there changed his life, and he feels called to help others experience the amazing graces available from the Lord in this village. Since his first trip, he has made over twenty-five trips and continues to take people there. A small butterfly, but such large blessings from this miraculous sign!

‘But if I were you, I would appeal to God; I would lay my cause before him.

He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.’

 (Job 5:8-9 NIV)