Parable of the Processional Caterpillar

This parable-style drama tells the story of a group of caterpillars blindly following each other around the rim of a clay pot, ignoring life-giving food and water just inches away.

A young caterpillar begins to question their endless trek, noticing how many days have passed and how they keep circling the same path. However, the older caterpillars dismiss him, insisting he should conform and follow tradition.

As hunger and exhaustion set in, the biologist, who deeply cares for the caterpillars, places food and water directly in their path. But they refuse to see it, continuing their cycle of mindless obedience until one by one, they perish.

The young caterpillar is left with a choice—break free and live or continue the path of blind conformity. Sadly, he chooses to conform, leaving the biologist heartbroken.

This parable is a powerful reflection on faith, free will, and the consequences of ignoring truth when it is right in front of us.

Cast: 1 monologue or you can have 4 actors

• Narrator (Biologist) – Represents God’s loving guidance and provision
• Young Caterpillar – A seeker of truth, questioning blind conformity
• Older Caterpillars – Represent those stuck in tradition, refusing to see truth
• Caterpillar Ensemble (Optional) – Other followers on the same doomed path

Bible Reference: Hebrews 10:4-10

Set: blank

Sound: wireless mics if available

Song: none

Lighting: standard

SFX: none

Props: flowers

Costumes: standard

Special Instructions:

• Have flowers and vegetation around the reader

Time: 7

The Parable of the Processional Caterpillar

Now learn this lesson from the processional caterpillar:

One day a biologist came to his lab and, as always, he went first to look lovingly at his most prized possession—a lovely geranium in a beautiful clay pot. The biologist had worked years to develop this geranium, and it was the picture of perfection.

This morning, to the amazement of the biologist, he saw a line-up of a large number of caterpillars on the rim of the clay pot. The caterpillars were moving in a constant column, and were lined up in such a way that the caterpillar who was in the lead was actually immediately behind the last caterpillar in the line-up.

The rim was completely encircled by beautiful, healthy caterpillars. Inside the clay pot, just a few inches from the rim, and from the caterpillars, was the biologist's pride and joy, the geranium. Now, the biologist knew that this luxuriant geranium was of a species most favored by caterpillars.

And he knew too that the caterpillars would see that at the foot of the geranium, the biologist had formed a small pool of clear, cool, inviting water.

The biologist watched, entranced, as the caterpillar in the lead started moving ahead, and all behind him followed, around and around the rim of the clay pot.

A young caterpillar, near the middle of the line-up, said,
"Where are we going?"

An older caterpillar, just up ahead, shot back,
"Where do you think we are going? We are walking around the edge of this clay pot!"

The older caterpillar bemoaned,
"I sometimes wonder about the younger generation. Why must they question every single turn in the road of life? Why can they not be just like everyone else—keep their eyes on where we are going and learn to conform?"

And with much tongue-clicking and nodding of heads, all of the caterpillars continued following the leader on their trek around the rim of the clay pot.

Soon, the young caterpillar began to get somewhat bored by the monotony of the walk around the rim of the clay pot. He had made a mental note of a large bump on the rim of the clay pot, and, (for lack of anything better to do), he had kept track of the number of revolutions which he and the other caterpillars had made around the rim of the clay pot.

Also, he had been watching as the sun moved across the sky, faded into starry night, only to rise again the following morning. The young caterpillar kept track of the number of days which had gone by since he and the other caterpillars had started on their trek around the rim of the clay pot.

"Did you know that we have now made 686 revolutions around the rim of this clay pot?"
the young caterpillar asked, to no one in particular.

All of the caterpillars merely rolled their eyes, shook their heads, and tried to ignore the young upstart.

"Well, it's true," he continued.
"And more than that, I can tell you that we have now been 4 days on this continuous trek around the rim of the clay pot."

One of the elder caterpillars could take this no longer. And between deep gasps for breath (for the elder caterpillar was nearing exhaustion), he shot back,

"Will you please just fall into line?"

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