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Currently browsing thread: On the Keeping of Cats & the Hiddeness of Christ Petersen Nov 30, 2007 07:55:20
On the Keeping of Cats & the Hiddeness of Christ
Petersen
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Nov 30, 2007 07:55:20 		I am not against cats. I am just not for them.

After years of living with Marvin I have come to like him. I wouldn't say I have real affection for him, I wouldn't miss him if he were gone, but I like him. He is very mellow. He is very Garfield-esque, large, slow, and calm. He likes to be near us, but not on top of us. Maybe once a week he will jump into my lap to be petted and if I put him down he stays down. Otherwise he is merely lounging nearby. If you choose to walk over and pet him he will purr. If you choose to ignore him, no problem. He can take it or leave it.

For some reason, I am clearly his favorite. He doesn't often jump on anyone else's lap. He likes me. I suspect it is because I take the same attitude that he does. I don't crowd him or try to pet him. I ignore him, but if he comes to me I pet him. As I said, I like him.

But Jacqui was bored with him. She denies this but it is true. Marvin doesn't play. He just watches. He watches the world, eats and sleeps. That is it. She wanted a kitten and after years of telling her "no more cats" I finally succumbed to the pressure. She brought Fritz home about 4 months ago. He is now about 8 months old. He is the polar opposite in cats to Marvin. He is a ball of energy, always tearing around the house. He demands attention. He is all over us all the time. If you put him down he simply jumps back up again. We have to latch our bedroom door so he doesn't bother us at night - something Marvin would never do.

I do not like this cat. He is a pain. Gentle, tolerant Marvin hates him. He wants to play with Marvin. He stalks and attacks him. It is a like a mosquito jumping on an elephant but elephants don't like that sort of thing. They are both de-clawed, so the damage to one another is minimal. Fritz has no malice in any case and Marvin no will.

It also turns out that I am Fritz's clear favorite. Jacqui is dying for this cat to love her but instead he loves me. I can't help it. I am a cat magnet.

Fritz endeared himself to me this week by killing a mouse. Marvin does not kill mice. He is willing to watch them. They make his tail twitch. But he does not touch them, let alone kill them. If they get too close he leaves. Fritz is a born mouser. He killed this mouse, split open its belly on the kitchen floor and then ate it. He ate it all: skin, bones, hair, and entrails. Then he licked the floor clean. Then he walked around the house purring in feline bliss.

I thought: I like this cat. He is useful.

Now you may ask: Where is Jesus? Where is the Gospel? Why are you writing about cats? I am writing about cats because I can, because I live with cats. Jesus is with me always, but He is mostly hidden. The theology of glory cannot tolerate a hidden Jesus. They must make Him explicit in all things, they must repeat their formulas and cliches, they must sanctify all things. But the Theology of the Cross has no need to sanctify cats and living with them. It rests in the certainly that the death of Jesus Christ is enough and we are therefore free to plow through a life with cats without constant and mandatory spiritual introspection and pietism. We don't need to sanctify the world or excuse God's actions or prove our faith. We live from Sacrament to Sacrament in the full confidence that Jesus is there even when He is hidden, that He is there whether we are eating Ramen noodles and watching Mythbusters, killing mice, or reading the Bible. The forgiveness of sins is not a fantasy that requires constant reinforcement. The love of God is not the needy infatuation of teen-agers looking for approval and acceptance. It is comfortable and constant and makes men free in their own skins.  

Comments...

  • Dec 03, 2007 05:51:41 Re: On the Keeping of Cats & the Hiddeness of Christ - Petersen
    Fritz killed another mouse yesterday. He again ate it whole. I find it quite endearing that he not only kills these mice but also cleans up after himself. I think all cats should eat the bones.

    I was up this morning at 3:00 am and he was dutifully watching the dishwasher (while Marvin slept). So I expect number three is in the works.

    It doubt that clawless Fritz is a super mouser. But I have become more aware than ever of how utterly useless Marvin is.

    In terms of the cat who walks alone, I thought the deal was they would catch mice forever and forever. Fritz seems to know the rules. Perhaps I should throw more stuff at Marvin.
    • Dec 03, 2007 06:51:43 Re: On the Keeping of Cats & the Hiddeness of Christ - Pr. H. R. Curtis
      Indeed, if memory serves, you need a boot and a hatchet and a bone.

      Basil, also clawless, loves to catch mice. But he's a bit of a sadist: catching, carrying in mouth, dropping, catching, etc. So he's never had the chance to get the deed done because I always take the mouse away before he's done playing. Last time, as I carried Basil who was carrying a mouse down to the basement to dispatch the latter poor creature, Basil growled through clinched fangs the whole time. He was not done yet. . .

      +HRC
      • Dec 05, 2007 12:56:37 Re: On the Keeping of Cats & the Hiddeness of Christ - kerner
        Like you, I'm not that big a fan of cats. Unlike you, I have no tolerance for a useless one. We have had several cats, but the two I tolerate the best were great mousers. I try to grow a garden every year. The rabbits never raid my garden. I do, however, occasionally find a bunny carcass laying around the yard.

        Every so often I still hear from some animal rights type that "Humans are the only species that kills for sport", obviously, these guys don't know our cats.
  • Dec 03, 2007 05:11:36 Re: On the Keeping of Cats & the Hiddeness of Christ - Anastasia Theodoridis
    Here's a hint for you: the reason you are a cat magnet is precisely because you do not love cats.

    Cats have that knack of knowing who in the house likes them the LEAST, and latching onto that person. They do it unerringly. Learn to love cats, if you want them to ignore you.

    :-)
    Anastasia
  • Dec 02, 2007 23:58:23 Re: On the Keeping of Cats & the Hiddeness of Christ - The Rev. J. Rinas
    Pastor Petersen writes -- "I am not against cats. I am just not for them" -- and asks where the gospel is in all this.

    At the risk of being labelled a fundy, I paraphrase the Savior: "He who is not for Me is against Me."

    Or is that the law? "Let the reader understand."

    Rinas
  • Dec 02, 2007 13:41:14 Re: On the Keeping of Cats & the Hiddeness of Christ - Pr. Lehmann
    Somebody's cat is doing a lot of commenting. ;-)
  • Dec 02, 2007 12:58:22 Re: On the Keeping of Cats & the Hiddeness of Christ - sweaver
    http://ca.youtube....lE&feature=related
  • Nov 30, 2007 12:18:57 Re: On the Keeping of Cats & the Hiddeness of Christ - Erich Heidenreich
    If you like cats as much as it sounds, would you like to join me for a hunting party at my farm? We've always had two or three cats at our farm and I've always practiced complete animal contraception at our farm. Unfortunately, some feral cats have moved onto the farm and have reproduced unbelievably over the past six months. We now have a literal cat farm on our hands. I'm afraid it's time to do some culling! I can't afford to feed our few domestic cats (all outdoor animals because we're all allergic) because the feral cats are eating about $30 worth of food per week. My kids shoes are all covered with cat dung, and I've had it! We used to have up to 160 sheep on our farm, and now I'm afraid if I don't do something we're going to have as many cats! Sheep manure doesn't stink, but cat sure does!
  • Nov 30, 2007 09:50:28 Re: On the Keeping of Cats & the Hiddeness of Christ - Peter
    I have no idea what you're talking about in this post, but one thing is clear. You like cats more than you're willing to admit.
  • Nov 30, 2007 08:11:54 Re: On the Keeping of Cats - Jacqui
    Just for the record, I was NOT bored with Marvin -- he was lonely for another cat, so I just wanted him to have a kitty to play with.
    • Dec 01, 2007 07:48:45 Re: On the Keeping of Cats - Susan
      Jacqui, middle-aged cats do NOT want playmates. We've got the same cat-dynamics going on in our house right now as you have this year. Things have gotten a smidge better with the cold weather, as the two girls are stuck indoors together more now. Of course, Energetic Kid Cat is getting whopped and smacked around by Cranky Middle-Aged Cat a lot more frequently now that they're in closer proximity more of the time.....
    • Nov 30, 2007 10:59:21 Re: On the Keeping of Cats - Rebekah
      Jacqui, great news. I have the perfect cat for you. I will drop him off next time we're in Fort Wayne.
      • Dec 01, 2007 13:24:30 Re: On the Keeping of Cats - Rebekah
        Jacqui, my word is my bond. The cat is yours.

        And as for you, HRC, you know how that cat refers to all of us. Your "friend"--ha!
        • Dec 01, 2007 15:53:29 Re: On the Keeping of Cats - Pr. H. R. Curtis
          For the record, Jacqui, Rebekah is right now lying down on the couch and Basil (aforementioned cat) is curled up with her. She puts up a lot of bluster, but they are friends.

          +HRC
          • Dec 02, 2007 12:15:18 Re: On the Keeping of Cats - Jacqui
            As I can tell how much Basil means to you I wouldn't dream of taking him from you. Not that I wouldn't want him, because the more cats the better :-)
          • Dec 01, 2007 16:53:16 Re: On the Keeping of Cats - Pr. Lehmann
            yeah, she jokes about Basil, but everybody loves a good herb.
      • Dec 01, 2007 12:46:48 Re: On the Keeping of Cats - Pr. H. R. Curtis
        A cat, o best beloved, walks by himself and all places are alike to him. But it is not so with babies and husbands (well, 2 out of 5 proper husbands, that is). We like our cat. Please don't inflict poor Marvin with another antagonist and deprive us of our friend who never bites the babies unless they pull his tail too much.

        +HRC
    • Nov 30, 2007 08:29:46 Re: On the Keeping of Cats - Petersen
      I told you she denies it. Marvin and I know the truth.
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