Volume 32

It’s time to shed some misconceptions about molting — the process by which various creatures get rid of old feathers, coats and shells.

According to Wikipedia, snakes usually shed their scaly skins by scraping their heads against something hard — or between a couple of rocks. Once there’s a small tear, the reptile crawls from within, turning the old covering inside out. The shed scales are dead, so there's no pain. But the layer beneath is tender when the old covering comes off, usually all at once in a single piece.

Among birds, the process is much more gradual. They never lose all their old feathers at the same time because some are needed to protect body temperature and ward off excessive moisture. But because feathers are lifeless, they wear and need to be replaced. Once new ones start to grow, the old ones become loose in their sockets and get pushed out. Most birds molt once or twice a year, usually starting with the head then down the body, finishing with the tail feathers. Since some birds can’t fly when their wings are molting, they look for a safe place where

In much the same way, a molting spider will lower itself on a silk line, out of the reach of predators while its new shell hardens. But first, it must shed its old external skeleton, from the inside out. That process is driven by the heart. First the spider increases its cardiac rate to pump more blood into its chest. The resulting pressure pushes against the old shell until it cracks and falls away. Once it does, the spider does most of its growing immediately. Even so, the newexternal skeleton is extremely soft, leaving the spider open to attack.

This shedding process is called ecdysis, from the Greek meaning “to strip off.” According to one source, some exotic dancers put the word “ecdysiast” on their resumes when seeking more respectable work, to camouflage their background. Whether that’s true or not, all of us need to move forward into maturity, and that almost always involves leaving behind something of our former self.

As the apostle Paul says, “Now’s the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behaviour, slander and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old evil nature... In its place you have clothed yourself with a brand-new nature that’s continually being renewed as you learn more and more about Christ, who created this new nature within you.” (Col. 3:810)

Sometime that spiritual ecdysis is snake-like and begins when we’re caught between a rock and a hard place. Crisis sometimes compels us to make a drastic change, to the point where we turn our life inside out. In those cases, transformation is dramatic and immediate.

But most of us are more like birds who do our emotional molt a little at a time. And like our feathered friends, we begin with the head. “Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world,” Paul writes, “but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you’ll know what God wants you to do and... how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.” (Rom. 12:2)

Yet the heart must be involved, too. As we become more attuned to our spiritual needs and nature, our priorities shift. So does our perspective. That creates an internal tension that eventually cracks the constraints of our sin and self-centredness until the old begins to fall way. That’s a tough process though, and it leaves us vulnerable. If we’re going to change — really change — we need to be in a safe place, surrounded by those who will protect, encourage and nourish us. That’s why the church is so important.

And growth is always worth the struggle. It leaves us tender but truly in touch with God and those around us. So let Him give you that new spiritual covering of “mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Col. 3:12) What have you got to lose?

By Rick Gamble. Published in Cross Current, the weekly newsletter of the followers of Christ congregation in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. Reprint at will in not-for-profit publications. To subscribe to this free weekly article,