We have a cat. I don’t like him. We used to be friends, but no more! Not since he turned evil. He used to be an outdoor, indoor cat. He’d politely meow at the door to be let out when nature called. It was a great agreement between Whiskers and I. Somewhere along the way he became a lazy, fat cat and decided to skip the meowing request. One too many messes later, he’s out! Banished. Sorry. You do the crime, Whiskers, you do the time!
He stalks us now. Runs to the front door. Stares at us at the back door. Forlornly sits on the windowsills. We hear his pitiful yowls at times. But my heart is hard. Down the street, the Yeagleys can probably hear me shriek “Who let the cat in?” The boys never know how it happens. OK. Fine. My resolve weakens at times, too. When it’s cold. Or raining. Whiskers you can come in…to the GARAGE! No more couch kitty!
I just read a book called Messy Spirituality. There was a story about a woman who was a mess. Alcohol, drugs, abortion…a mess! But she felt Jesus was pursuing her. She likened it to the feeling of a cat “following me, wanting me to reach down and pick it up, wanting me to open the door and let it in. But I knew what would happen! You let a cat in one time, give it a little milk, and then it stays forever…” She went back to church and was overtaken by love. She continued to write, “I began to cry and left before the benediction, and I raced home and felt the little cat running along at my heels, and I walked down the dock past dozens of potted flowers, under a sky as blue as one of God’s own dreams, and I opened the door to my houseboat, and I stood there a minute, and then I hung my head and said…’I quit.’ I took a long deep breath and said out loud, ‘All right. You can come in.'” (Messy Spirituality pages 28-29)
Wow! Suddenly Whisker’s stalking behavior looks different. What if that was Jesus following me to my front door only to have me shut it in his face? What if Whiskers was Jesus staring into our back doors wanting so badly to come in? Is that Jesus sadly crying? Is that my hard heart softening, letting Jesus in, but only to certain parts of my heart’s home?
Thanks Whiskers for the deep thoughts! Sorry though. You’re still out.
Did you know cats are not mentioned in the Bible? I wonder why that is? Hmmm…
Thankfully, one great big Cat IS mentioned. “Do not weep. See the LION of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed.” (Revelation 5:5)
Our God is the Lion, the Lion of Judah,
He’s roaring with power and fighting our battles,
And every knee will bow before you. (Lyrics by Big Daddy Weave)
Let the great Cat in! Don’t shut the door. Don’t banish him to the garage. He’ll clean up our messes. The Lion IS our victory. And the most wonderful news for us; He will stay forever!
PS
No cat’s feelings were hurt while writing this blog. I actually like him.