This morning was a walking day. A beautiful one at that. It was a cool crisp morning, I brought my ipod along, which I don't always do, but did this morning, and just enjoyed the sound of music and my own thoughts. I loved it. When I returned home, I sipped on some ice water before grabbing my bible and journal and heading to my back patio. This is the routine, weather permitting. I have two chairs out there and a few tables, so it makes for a great place to do a quiet time. I had all my stuff and was headed out, when I pulled the blinds to see this cat sitting in one of the chairs.
Some things that are important to know. I hate cats. Classic understatement of the year. I hate cats a lot. In high school, people used to put cat stuff on my desk just to annoy me (and it worked) knowing how much I hated them. So recently a few people moved in next door and I think they have about 7 cats. Ok, maybe just a few, but they let their cats outside all day while they are gone. Problem is, the cats get a little confused, or maybe just entertained to sit on my patio and front steps. So thus, they are always around. They sit in the parking lot, come up to me when I'm outside, pace the neighborhood, and sit in my chairs. You sense the drama. Actually its not that big of deal unless your me and you hate cats.
So I did what anyone would do, nothing, and just sat in the other chair. I thought, I can be cool with this. Its just a cat right. So I cat down, start reading, and the cat jumped about three feet in the air and attacked me. It was clawing me and wrapping itself around me but my strength was fighting it off. Animal rights wasn't going to stop me. Ok, actually the cat didn't attack me. It continued to sleep soundly and actually looked kind of cute. It must have been having a dream because it kept kicking. (I know what your thinking, you can't hate cats AND claim they are cute. Give me a break I have a heart too)
I sat, and read...and journaled and the lame cat just kept my attention. I remembered a few years back to winter. A friend of mine in college (actually a few) did not like the cold. Thus, we talked about the cold weather a lot, even though it wasn't all that cold. And I remember thinking one day that it was actually cold. And for some reason in popped in my head..."I want to think of Jesus and how thankful I am for what He did for me everytime I'm cold" It seemed slightly random. I went home and recorded my thoughts that winter day, and wrote that each time the winter cold kissed and pieced my skin, that I would know that Jesus was pieced so I would have life. It was amazing. It consumed me. That simple thought expanded and I still think about it.
I looked back at the stupid cat. The sweet innocent cat that I hated so much but see so frequently. Its not a lion, I know this. Its a cat. Its a cat that annoys me quite often. But the thoughts raced through my head. The lion and the lamb. When you see the cat, remember the lion and lamb. The strength of the lion, his fierceness and power. The gentle spirit of the lamb, inviting and loving. There are everyday things that God puts in our lives to remind us of Himself. For me, today a cat took on a new meaning. I still don't want much to do with them to be honest. But in that sweet moment, God gripped my heart and showed me a glimpse of His own heart. The cat that I see as the Lion and the Lamb
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