Everything I Know About God I Learned From a Cat

“Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.” (Isaiah 55:6)

The idea that the “Lord is near” reminds me of my cat. In fact, my cat is a perfect picture for my relationship with God. Now it’s important to note that I’m highly allergic to the feline kingdom. A cat within a city block causes my eyes to water and itch. A cat in the same room creates hives and unmerciful sneezing. I won’t tell you what one touch does.

So it’s ironic that on a cold January night, a calico kitten wandered into my life and changed everything. She’d have surely died if left outside. Hungry. Freezing. Alone. I wasn’t looking for her, but her desperate meows in the night caught my attention. Against my better judgments, I offered her a temporary home, food and the blessing of my family (including two dogs). And I waited for the sneezing and wheezing to break loose. But a funny thing happened. I didn't sneeze. Not even a little.

Instead, the calico cat my family calls “Nala” (from the Lion King) has made herself at home. Sometimes too “at home” for me. She enjoys the leftover milk in my cereal bowl, naps on my pillow and plays with my fountain pens. She had five kittens before we could even get her spayed (and I was allergic to all so we gave them away…fast!). She’s cute, but annoying. And, boy, can she scratch.

That’s why she reminds me of my search for God. I'm a lot like my cat. She sought me. And like this verse relates, it’s the duty of man to seek God. It’s our responsibility to “call on him.” The truth is He’s near. He’s always near. But too often we prefer our dank darkness than his warm welcome. We’d rather be aloof and alone than part of a family. What I forget is how allergic God is to my sin. It’s only because of Christ that my failings allow freedom for me to participate in the family of God. I didn’t earn a place at His Table. I don’t have a right to snooze on His Grace nor misuse the Blessings and Resources He’s granted to me.

But I do. And I bet you do, too. All the time. And like that silly cat of mine, He loves me still. I don’t get it. Probably never will. I’m just thankful for the home, the daily bread and the blessings. I’m also grateful for the promise He’s always near, whether I seek Him or not.

My family calls our cat “Nala” but I call her “Grace.” Now you know why.



NOTABLE QUOTABLES ON GOD:

Any fool can count the seeds in an apple. Only God can count all the apples in one seed. ~Robert H. Schuller

Every evening I turn my worries over to God. He's going to be up all night anyway. ~Mary C. Crowley

God loves each of us as if there were only one of us. ~St. Augustine

What we are is God's gift to us. What we become is our gift to God. ~Eleanor Powell

A man with God is always in the majority. ~John Knox

Father, we thank you for the Grace you show us every day. Even when we forget our "former life" and how empty, cold and lonely it was without You, you still are "near." Even when we indulge your Grace and live selfishly, you still are "near." Even when we prefer the dark, you still are "near." Jesus, we thank You for the sacrifice of Love that liberates us and connects us to Real Family. Amen.