"Feline Theology"

“Feline Theology”

 

During our 48 years of marriage Karen and I have been the “parents” of thirteen cats. All but one came to us by adoption from friends, shelters and in one case a veterinary clinic where Karen worked. Over the years three disappeared, one was hit by a car, one was “returned to sender” because he didn’t fit the household well, seven were euthanized due to various maladies and we still have Lily. The common denominator is all of them enjoyed eating. Two in particular would let us know the food bowl was empty by verbalizing their concern then waiting nearby with anticipation that one of us would get the message.

Our family felines unknowingly illustrated reliance on God expressed by King David in Psalm 5:3: “Morning by morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; morning by morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.” (Emphasis added). Just as our pets had confidence that they’d be appropriately fed David had faith that God would respond to his heartfelt prayers. And the biblical record shows his trust was rewarded.

Around 700 BC (three centuries after David) God’s prophet Micah echoed the same principle when he wrote, “But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior, my God will hear me.” (Micah 7:7, emphasis added). And a hundred years later another of God’s messengers expressed the same assurance (“I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me….”—Habakkuk 2:1, emphasis added). Each highlighted phrase is a translation of the Hebrew word “tsaphah” which has the basic meaning of to peer into the distance. Tucked into this is the biblical definition of faith as “…being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1).

Much as Karen may be surprised to hear me admit it pets can enrich our lives in ways we don’t realize at first. And two of our furry friends proved to be (albeit unwittingly) feline theologians. I pray I’ll learn from their anticipation of response when they made their desires known and trust God to hear me and answer according to His purposes.

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan