Sunday With Smokey
Meet Smokey…who doesn’t quite understand yet that he’s a “former” stray.
He’s a former stray because whether he knows it or not he has a home here and he’s loved whether he moves in or doesn’t.
Nobody seems to want him, certainly, no one is taking care of him.
He looks to be an older fellow…he hasn’t been neutered so the wounds of constant fighting are many and painful when touched.
He has an abscess on the side of his face and he’s missing a tooth or two.
I suspect that he was quite a handsome cat when he was young…perhaps he will be again.
He lives in the neighborhood shrubbery…yesterday, he arrived with his whiskers plastered down by a spider web he walked through.
He is always very hungry.
Last week, I put a bowl of food out for him when I heard him crying from the bushes.
He ate a bit, but something spooked him and he ran.
Same the next day.
Slowly, he started coming out just far enough to tell me he was hungry.
A couple of days ago, he let me sit beside him while he ate.
Yesterday, he came to my door and he ate his fill while I petted him.
This morning, he opened the door and called for me, just as he’s seen the other cats do.
We had a good visit over breakfast, then, as always, he quickly left.
Soon, he’ll understand that he doesn’t have to go anywhere after he eats.
Even if he doesn’t, I’ll still feed him and sit with him when him when I’m able.
I don’t have any expectations for Smokey, just the hope that someday he’ll let me give him the home he deserves.
All of this , naturally, brings me to Jesus.
I’m looking pretty ragged myself.
I feel worse.
The world, the flesh, and the devil, take turns wounding all of us.
Instead of going to God we try to make our own way through…we’re not sure of His love and sometimes He scares us.
What if… Jesus loves us like I love stray cats?
What if… He’s actually looking for you to feed and care for you?
What if… He just loves to sit with you while He blesses you?
What if …you really matter to Him no matter how insignificant you and the world thinks you are?
What if… Smokey isn’t the only one who needs to come “home”?
Make your own application…
I had a dog named Smokey, jet black, but as all dogs are was nice 🙂
This fella looks as if he could be as ornery as his new friend 🙂 … and needs some serious love that his new friend will give and give and give.
I would hope that Jesus, if he exists, does take in strays…because everything in Christendom up to now has taught me that we have to really want, really work and really earn salvation that we can forfeit in an instant.
Jesus only takes strays. If you are not a stray that means you belong to someone else (other gods).
You should leave Christendom (whatever the hell that is) and follow Jesus into his Church. Your whole sequence is skewed – the Bible (check that out) says that you can’t want it, let alone “really” want it – it also says that you cannot work for it – it is a gift and through the process you cannot earn it.
It is solely from God’s grace, given through faith (which he also gives you) – you can’t lose what God gives (in other words you cannot sin your way out of salvation) that is secure. I will concede that through great effort, you can give it up.
I know you have gone through tremendous hard times these past couple of years, but go back to Christ and the Bible and don’t give in to this “Christendom” crap.
parts unknown,
All my cats need to do is show up.
When they don’t show up, I go find them.
None of them fully trust me for a long time.
Doesn’t change me.
I’m not real pleased with the Almighty now myself…but He can handle it and our relationship is intact despite me.
Praying some really good stuff comes your way.my friend…
Today it hit me… why God hates pride…. It separates us from seeing Him. .. Even when we conclude that we’ll never be good enough for Him and turn away, we miss the whole impact of the cross – why Jesus submitted to it
Or so it seems to me today…. ?
Martin Luther’s Disciple, thanks for your comments.
Michael, thank you, too. What do you do when one of the cats wants nothing to do with you? (I think I know what your answer will be but I want to hear you verify it)
parts unknown,
Trey and I were just talking about that.
If I know they’re hungry I just leave food out where I see them and leave them alone.
They’re always welcome to come and go as they please…if they need something,they know where to find me… 🙂
Michael,
That’s close to what I thought you’d say 🙂
I appreciate the open venue to talk, even knowing I’m opening myself up to be proselytyzed by someone who’s sure the way they worship is the correct way and if I only did a, b and c I’d be right with God and wouldn’t be thinking the way I am right now (and getting off his ass performing good works for God)
Truth is, I’ve been around Christianity a long time…long enough to see the truth behind the religious facade, long enough to be pissed at God and a bunch of his children, long enough to be sick and tired of jumping through all the hoops…and long enough to question everything and reject some things.
I’ve gotten to the point that atheism makes the most sense….and then the next day comes, and I’m sure there has to be something greater than us out there, and the Bible is where you start to go looking for him.
Right now, when I draw my last breath I’m either going to cease to exist (no God) or wake up in heaven (God exists)….but I swear if you expect me to sit in a church service for all eternity praising God, I’ll walk past the pearly gates, build me a bar and still and worship Him while nursing a beer at a table…
(don’t worry, I’ll sneak in the back door every so often and sit in the back row like I did on Earth. Or sit in the foyer and watch the service on one of the TV screens)
This reminds of a really bad, really old white guy’s joke.
“Missing: Dog. 3 legs, one eye, teeth missing.
Answers to ‘Lucky.'”
🙂
I was looking at some old bible notes and thinking about the love of God, I never really expected God to love me or even like me. If He tolerated me enough not to kill me and mine I considered that a plus for as long as it lasts. It was never preached on but it was injected in almost every interaction when I was in the faith community. We are alone, always and should be, independent, individuals, etc. I did very much appreciate the story, cats are wonderful people.
Hey, Brian — it’s great to see you here!
Your presence is needed. You’re one of the kindest, most gentle souls on PhxP.
Beautiful.