TGIF
Smokey is an “outside” cat.
I wish he was an “inside” cat, but he can’t get along with Miss Kitty.
Perhaps it’s that Miss Kitty can’t get along with him.
For both of their sakes, one lives outside in a “cat house” and one lives inside in my house.
As is often the case with cats and people, I’ve developed a special love for the outsider.
That doesn’t mean I don’t love the one who stays in the house, it just means I take a different joy in the one that doesn’t fit in.
I can relate…
Make no mistake, The Big Smoke loves me too…his issues with Miss Kitty don’t change his love for me.
We get together three or four times a day for meals and just to “be”.
He loves affection, loves to be petted and scratched, but like most outsiders, he doesn’t know how to handle it well.
He gets excited and bites…when you leave he tries to pull you back with claws.
He doesn’t follow the rules well…he doesn’t even know most of the rules.
He always seems a little bit down when you walk away, but he greets you expectantly when you return.
The neighbors and other cats don’t like him much, but I’m glad he’s my cat and I love him very much.
Some of you are a lot like Smokey.
You’ve learned to live outside the church because it’s not safe inside…it seems like whenever you go in someone hurts you or wants to fight.
The folks inside the house think they own it and don’t want you there.
You don’t follow their rules…and when you try, they change the rules.
They let you know that you’re different and that they don’t like you much.
They want you to believe the owner of the house doesn’t like you either.
This hurts you…because you know and love the owner.
Don’t believe the lie, dear outsider.
Just like this cat dad loves all his fur bearing friends, so does the Father love you.
In fact, I think He may have a special love for those of us who don’t always play well with others.
He’ll make a place for you outside and He’ll be there for you just as He is for the “insiders”.
He delights in you and cares for you.
He may even let you in on a secret…the ones inside aren’t strong enough to last outside.
He loves them too…but they need to stay safe.
You’re loved.
Ask Smokey…
Make your own application…
30 years ago I was a displaced missionary who had to come home much earlier than I ever intended due to a family need. It was very hard to find a church where i fit-I wasn’t hip enough, I wasn’t conservative enough, I missed Spanish…and then I found the place where i have fit for the past 20 years. We have our. problems (in both the English and Spanish congregations), but people are kind and we agree to disagree on that which does not pertain to the core items of the faith. I am content.
Just a thought about cats…my current cat was deemed unadoptable and spent two years in a cage at her rescue. They finally decided to move her, and they were willing to take her back if it didn’t work. Well it has (it took her three months to get her out of the bathroom where she holed up), but now she is my shadow and cuddle buddy. Sometimes cats work it out.
Linn,
I’m glad you found a place to fit.
I found one too, but only because I’m the pastor… 🙂
My late grandmother’s favorite hymn – The 90 and 9….
“But one was out on the hills away… .. away from the tender Shepherds care…”
It goes on to describe the Shepherd’s search for His missing sheep, “away on a mountain wild and bare….”
I think God has quite a few Smokeys.
Good TGIF ponder again, Michael.. Thankful for those who God has humbled/blessed with the need to ponder
God keeo
Linn..My last name is Linn, also ( my husband’s name.) My maiden name is Swedish. Linn is a very rare name – I wonder if you are a distant relative of my husband’s. His father was killed in a car accident when he was only eight, and he lost track of that side of the family, which lives
in Indiana . My husband thinks the name Linn is Finnish.Do you know more about the Linn name?
I think the gentleness and tenderness of Jesus is such a special thing. I can just imagine a shepherd with a little weak lamb…how would He care for it? Carry it? Or maybe make it walk because it needs the exercise? But seems to me He would stay close by. He Himself was the outsider. Man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Our High Priest can certainly sympathize with us.
Michael, this resonates so well with me (and I’m sure I’m not the only one), thank you.
“He may even let you in on a secret…the ones inside aren’t strong enough to last outside”
Don’t get me started, but I could tell stories on this theme….. (and again, I’m sure I’m not the only one…)
Thanks, Owen.
The people it doesn’t resonate with scare me… 🙂
We adopted a “working cat” from Animal Humane last Fall. We followed their directions, but he promptly ran away. Amazingly, this Fall, he came back, hail and hearty! He lives in the barn, rubs up against us when we go out there, and welcomes the food and water we provide.
We adopted a 2nd cat this Fall (before we knew the first one would come back). He is VERY social, is such a lover, enjoys being inside, but escapes outside often.
We just discovered he took down one of our chickens. I am having mixed feelings about our boy now. We’ve always had animals that got along with each other. I’m sad and welcome any input…
Linnea,
Bless you for adopting the cats!
I understand your sense of loss of one of your chickens…but understand as well that cats do what they do instinctively.
What you’ve learned is that this cat will kill prey…and given the chance, he’ll do it again.
I had to keep Chester inside…nothing was safe from him…but he was a great friend to me.
A cat who could take down a chicken is a formidable cat…. I wouldn’t know what to do to protect my egg layers and dumpling companions… ? ? ?
Thanks for the much needed encouragement here in dogpatch, Micheal.
“Coco” is our “Maine Coon” cat. Coco loves rabbit meat. She stalks full grown rabbits- catches them- then eats them. Coco loves rabbits.