STOP BEING CATTY,
YOU DOG!
Within any collection of humanity there exists two types of people: those who love dogs and those who prefer cats. Notice that I used the word "love" with dogs and "prefer" with cats. The reason I chose prefer over love in reference to cats is that I'm not quite sure that cat people can love their cats in the same way that dog people love their dogs.
Don't get me wrong, as a cat person myself (if I have to choose sides), I'm not suggesting any emotional incapacity on the part of cat owners. What I am suggesting is that cats really can't be loved as much as dogs. You see, in order to form a powerful emotional bond between two beings, there has to be a mutual desire to be together. Can we ever say this is the case for the elusive cat?
With dogs we have personality traits like loyalty, affection, dependence. Dogs need their masters. They desire to be near their master They greet them at the door with wagging tails and pooling drool. Dogs desire to play with, to guard, and to protect their families. Cats, on the other hand, if they enter into any form of a relationship with their co-habitators, do so purely on their own terms. They come when they are hungry. They play when they feel like it. They allow you to pet them, if it's convenient, or desirable because they have an itch. Otherwise you really don't see them much.
I could go on with this canine verses feline comparison, but instead I would prefer to make an observation: I believe God wants us to be more like dogs and less like cats. As someone who dislikes, and even fears every dog within a five kilometer radius of my domicile, I really hate to make such a statement, but journalistic integrity (is there such a thing these days?) must prevail.
Perhaps I should explain how I have come to my present position. Sheila's parents arrived from Ontario a few days ago. And, now that the boys have stopped bouncing off the walls with the excitement generated by such an occurrence, I can honestly say that all of us are enjoying the visit very much! All of us that is, except for our cat, Kibberella.
You see, Sheila's parents have taken up residence in the guest bedroom downstairs and they have found it preferable to keep the door closed, and the cat out. Such a decision shows great wisdom and it should, in theory, present no real hardship for the cat. After all, the cat has the rest of our household in which to roam. But, for some reason, this closed door has become the focus of all of Kibby's hopes, dreams and desires. Every few minutes, Kibby walks by, camps in front of, paws, meows, and basically obsesses about this closed door. It's driving him nuts. If I didn't find it so enjoyable to watch him squirm in his state of unfulfilled desire, I might even feel sorry for him. But, I guess all his 5:00 am wake up whines have left my compassion reservoir a bit on the low side.
This amusing little development in the MacDonald household set me to pondering about the similarity between Kibby's cacophony, and that of our own human condition. Does not Kibby's knock at the one and only locked door of our home sound similar to the unfruitful preoccupation of Adam and Eve with the infamous tree? The Lord told them, "Hey guys, enjoy all that I have created for you. Go anywhere, eat anything, just leave this one little tree alone. " Not a difficult concept to understand; and a more generous offer has never been given. But, somehow they placed more value on the one thing they couldn't have then they did on all the wonderful things they did have. They had it made, but their "kitty" curiosity got the best of them.
OK, so what's the point? Well, what's your relationship with God like? Is it like a dog's or a cat's? Do you have the loyalty, the dependence, the joy of being with your Master that a dog has? Or, like a cat, do you come to God on your own terms when you need to be fed, or scratched? Are you content with the Master's presence, or are you more concerned about what's on the other side of the doors He locks for your own good? How do you look at God's Word? Is it something to obey because it contains the Masters' loving voice, or is it something to ignore because you're more interested in going on the prowl? Do you love the day like a dog, or the night like a cat?
There really is nothing like the relationship between a loyal, devoted dog and a equally loving dog owner. I personally know people who have sacrificially spent large sums of money to keep their dogs healthy and well looked after. The affection they give and get in return forms a relationship that is deeper than most people have with each other. Why? Because dogs respond to the love and affection of their Master. How about you? Your Heavenly Father has more love, more concern, more desire to be with you than even the most devoted dog owner. How do you respond to that love? Does your life; your heart, display an affectionate bark, or an indifferent meow? Something to think about!
If you have any stories, comments or questions, I'd love to hear from you. Just click on my name at the bottom of this page.
