Cats and Christianity

I am not a cat person. However, I am definitely not a mouse person. I had a mouse problem in my rent house, and I caught three mice, but there was one that refused to die. I tried glue traps, snap traps, and poison. At one point I even chased him around my kitchen with glue traps in hand. If you've seen the movie Mouse Hunt, I'm pretty sure my mouse was that mouse's cousin... Anyway, I was so desperate to be rid of that pesk that I got a cat. I NEVER dreamed I would have a cat. The day I made this decision I wasn't feeling very well, so Jessica and Steve went out to the area of the KMart parking lot that is designated for people giving away animals and picked up the cat that is Roscoe. He was seven weeks old when I got him, and he was tiny. He fit in one hand. He was soft and cuddly and so sweet. Then one day he went psycho and he is now the cat that most people know and are unsure of. He is still soft and he's beautiful, but he will turn on you without a moments notice. The scars on my hands, arms, and ankles are evidence of this. I don't know what happened, it was literally an overnight change. Anyway. I was driving home from Lawton today, and Roscoe was sitting in my lap being oh so sweet. All weekend long he tormented all the people staying at my parents house. Everyday when I get home from work he will come and rub on my legs, and I pick him up and within five minutes he is biting me. I've tried a spray bottle, I've tried distracting him with toys, I've tried "time out" (something we read online, don't know whose idea that was), and nothing works. I often catch myself thinking, "I feed him, I give him a place to stay, I provide everything for him, yet he continues to bite my hand and be hateful." As I was driving and contemplating Roscoe's bi-polarness (yes, I'm making up words now), it struck me that Christians do the same thing. We have a God that loves us and provides for us, yet we continue to "bite" Him by doing our own thing, being stubborn and only caring about ourselves and what we want to do. Roscoe is a lot nicer to me when there are a lot of people around. Possibly because there are more people for him to bite, and when certain persons won't stop tormenting him he can come to me for safety. However, when it's just the two of us all bets are off. I think Christians do something like that also. To other people we may talk the talk big time, but when we are alone with God it's a different story. When we face a trial we may appear to be leaning on Him, but one on one we're blaming Him or complaining to Him or questioning Him. How often, I wonder, does He look at us (really I'm talking about myself here) and think, "I provide all this for her, yet she continues to turn on me." And He has provided so much more for me than I provide for Roscoe. I've been told that cats are stubborn, and that people don't own cats the cats own their people. I can't help but think that our attitude should be more like dogs. They're known for their loyalty, and some even show unconditional love to people that don't deserve it. I think one of my favorite examples is from the movie "Up" (and I'm aware that is an animated movie, and not real life). When Dug, the "good" dog, first meets Carl and Russell he says, "I just met you, but I love you." That's a much more pleasant attitude. And leaves less scars on my hands... Clearly if you have an active, growing relationship with Jesus it shouldn't be an "I just met you" love, it should grow deeper every moment of every day, but it should be that pure. I don't know, just thoughts I had.

Note: This time last year I could say without a doubt that I was a different and better person than I had been at that time the year before. Right now I feel like I've gotten stuck in a rut, and it's really frustrating. I've heard a lot lately, "If you keep doing what you've always done, you'll keep getting what you've always gotten." So, I'm trying to change things up, which is why I'm making it known that I even have this blog. I'm not really looking to have a lot of dedicated readers, but I think just knowing that there is the possibility of people I know reading this will make a difference. Sort of an accountability thing for me. I don't usually like to be very transparent, but I think that is something I need to be doing. I shouldn't feel like I need to hide anything. So, here I am, being transparent. Whether anyone actually reads this or not, or comments or not doesn't so much matter. I just know that it's out there, and that someone could read it. Also, let me forewarn anyone who may read this, I may seem quiet in person, but once I get writing I can go on and on, so don't feel obligated to read every last word :). I'm also banking on this helping me sleep at night, I can get my thoughts out so they aren't keeping me awake all night...5:30 comes fast!