Poppy's 37 days - Patti Digh's Strong Offer

Poppy’s 37 days

August 27, 2008 in Uncategorized

I got an extraordinary gift this morning from a woman named Becky in Savusavu, Fiji. All the way from Fiji!

Here’s her note:

Patti,

I think you’ll appreciate this article from Sunday’s Washington Post about a man, a butterfly, and their 37 days. What would a butterfly do if it knew it had only 37 days to live? This one made quite the impression. Perhaps he was reading your blog for inspiration!

Be well, Becky

It is an extraordinary story of a man and a butterfly he called Poppy.

What Becky didn’t know is that the man who started the journey that led to this blog, 37days, was affectionately called Poppy by my daughters, his granddaughters.

And so, for Poppy, go, read, about an extraordinary 37 days. My thanks to Becky for this gift. Yet another circle.

About Patti Digh

Patti Digh is an author, speaker, and educator who builds learning communities and gets to the heart of difficult topics. Her work over the last three decades has focused on diversity, inclusion, social justice, and living and working mindfully. She has developed diversity strategies and educational programming for major nonprofit and corporate organizations and has been a featured speaker at many national and international conferences.

4 comments to " Poppy’s 37 days "


Jim Ley

August 27, 2008 AT 3:37PM

The last sentence of Poppy’s article gave me goose bumps.

Poppy’s story reminded me of this event that happened to me on August 28, 2004:

Life mirrors Art Saturday

As I am flipping through cable TV channels a few nights past, a movie actress tells her costar to be motionless. The camera
freezes on the man. Is this a contrived moment?

On a forecasted super hot day in the valley, I ponder the weather anticipating a cooler fogless day at the beach.

Montara Mountain is my destination. After a very steep hour and half hike from the beach parking lot to the cloudless 1944 foot summit, I stop to catch my breath. My bright white North Face micro fiber shirt is soaking wet with perspiration.

The 360 degree view is one of the finest in the Bay Area.

A large yellow and black (?Swallowtail?) butterfly rises out of the mountain top shrubs. It flies at my face and then rises over my head.

The butterfly circles for another approach and is intercepted by a second butterfly for a brief moment of midair butterfly hanky-panky.

By this time I am contemplating a repeat of the movie moment.

The large swallowtail makes another giant circle and flitters straight towards me. I stand perfectly still. It alights on my lower left chest directly over my beating heart.

I hold my breath and spy its inch long proboscis extended against my shirt.

Another prayer answered.

My inner excitement cannot be contained. I exhale as I proclaim “Praise Jesus!” This butterfly that was once a caterpillar flies
away leaving me with a renewed inner glow.

Lamentations 3:22-26

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD .

Donna (kygirl)

August 27, 2008 AT 5:22PM

I have goose-bumps, too. What a wonderful story of Poppy and his 37 days, and how amazing that the story has come full circle.

Laura Sue

August 28, 2008 AT 11:01AM

OMG. Really 37 days? That’s too much. There are no coincidences.

Sherri

August 28, 2008 AT 8:39PM

WOW! That’s about all I can say, WOW!! Loved the article and all its uncanny connections to you and your book….Poppy, 37 days, the message, “pay attention to what’s really important in life”, talk about a circle……..AMAZING!!