Where Are The Cats?
Over the years we’ve written a lot of little lessons and parables around my life with my cats.
Dear departed family members like Squeek, Miss Kitty, Chester, and Smokey taught me much as we shared life (and death) together.
Today I live with my cat, Liam, and three others…Trappy, Beau, and Jahsae.
So where are the stories?
In the Anglican church this part of the church calendar is called “ordinary time” This means that it’s not part of the major seasons of the church calendar. It’s a time to grow into what you know…what you learned during those seasons that preceded it.
So it is with my cats…this is a season of leaning in to what God has already taught me with their help.
You see something similar in the Old Testament…while it seems like someone like Abraham was always hearing from God, in reality there were long periods when he was just trying to live what he already had been told.
The other factor is that the older I get, the more dependent I am for Liam just to be here…the ministry of presence.
The power of presence defies words, but brings comfort words cannot.
So…I’m sure we’ll hear from the cats again (Liam is quite a character) but for now, we’re just here…together.
It’s enough.
Make your own application…
Michael,
I truly understand your meaning of the power of presence that our pets bring. We just lost our little Bitty dog and she brought such comfort & love with her presence & now that’s gone. 😢
pslady,
My heart goes out to you.
I panic when Liam gets sick…I pray that he outlives me…
My three dogs (Ruby, Dutch, and Gracie) provide that sense of presence for sure, but also are adept at moving me to activity and engagement. Daily walks for sure, but also constant contact, following me around, joining on truck trips (Ruby sheds too much for car rides) fetch, and, as Dutch proved again, interaction with other wildlife, i.e. skunks. While on the one hand they are keeping me ‘young,’ on the other they are helping me note the passage and preciousness of time. They are a blessing and provide another hazy window into the divine.
Thank you,fil.
There is a dog in my house now…and it’s teaching me sanctification… 🙂
Be careful, Michael. Before you know it you’ll be writing material for a new book on dogs 🙂