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I am a cat person; cats seem to fit my lifestyle at this time in my life. Frank and Deano are the current incarnations of felines in my family. They are smart, affectionate and playful. Deano fetches better than many dogs, and Frank tries to communicate with us by leaving cat toys in patterns on our floors and stairs.
I believe God offers us a model for the ministry of presence in cats. Other than feeding time, Frank and Deano never have an agenda. They always move to meet me where I am. My felines seem to know my mood even before I do: They sit and soak up my stress. They coax me to play when I’ve been too long in front of a screen. They make sure one of them of them is always at my side if I am sick or sad. My cats never try to fix me or change me. Frankie and Deano bear the balm of divine presence wherever they find me. I am grateful to be Frankie and Deano’s cat person.
This message is excerpted from “Love with fur on” by Sarah Odderstol in the October 2019 Gather magazine. Today is the 19th Sunday after Pentecost. Today we commemorate Francis of Assisi, renewer of the church, 1226; and Theodor Fliedner, renewer of society, 1864.