No, don’t let the title fool you. This is not about a theatre play or opera. Last week I wrote about my dog, Tiger Lily. This week I want to write about cats. There is a vast difference between cats and dogs. Number one, I like dogs, I don’t like cats. Now don’t get excited, I don’t like them but I don’t hate them I don’t like cauliflower but I eat it among other foods.

As a matter of fact, I have had quite a few cats over the past 4-5 years. When you live in the country you need to have cats, almost a necessity. One of my female cats had six kittens and I helped protect, nurture and rehome them. I currently have a cat now. My cats have to be outdoor cats because my wife is highly allergic to them (and I don’t like the smell of the litter box, the hair shedding and the things they tear up with their claws).

Currently, because of the cold weather, my cat stays in the barn and is quite content (can’t get him to leave). He and his litter mate, lived their first 4-6 months in the barn before they were turned into the great outdoors. They did quite well and survived. Then we moved to the city and the female could not handle the change and ran off while the male just made his home in the back yard and the barn.

I don’t like cats, not hate them, they’re just not my favorite animal. I’m pretty sure my cat loves me but I just am not sure. I guess I should explain my prejudice against cats.

I told you of the love my dog has for me. My cat does not show any, let me repeat, any of those traits. And it is not just this cat, it is any cat I have owned or even come in contact with.

Cats are just an indifferent animal. Your existence to them is secondary. Your purpose is to feed and water them…and clean the litter box if they are an indoor cat. They seem to not appreciate any thing you do for them, almost an entitled mindset. You are just a convenience to them.

Wow! That is harsh you say? Not really. I have never had a cat run up to me and greet me, wagging tail and dancing around, running circles. No matter length of time I have been gone this has never happened. As a matter of fact, my cat will come up to me and when I bend down to pet it, he walks away. If I’m outdoors and he sees me it is like “Oh, it’s just you, maybe later.” Put out food for them and they look at it like, “Is this it?” Or, if you are late, a cat gets a real attitude giving you the glare of a lifetime. Cats hold grudges too. Discipline a cat and they really ignore you. They see you and give you a glare and just walk away like “Oh yeah, you are the one that…” Tell a dog “NO!” and they scamper off with tail between legs. Tell a cat “NO!” and you get a “Who do you think you are look,” and they do what they want (usually getting right in the middle of what you are doing or where you are working).

No, I just don’t like cats. They are their own individual and rules seem to be for other people. That is why my cat is an outdoor cat. He can be his own individual and roam where he wants. He shows up for feeding and pretty much does his own thing.

This made me think of us and being Christian in our relationship with God. Sometimes I think we see God like our cat sees us…we are indifferent, entitled and a convenience when we need Him.

We hear God, His Word tells us no and we seemingly ignore and do what we want (like we know better). God calls us to Him in worship or Bible study and we just ignore, too busy, uninterested or inconvenient We come to God when we want or need something. When God disciplines or doesn’t answer prayer the way we want, we get mad, pout, maybe just ignore Him until we need something later.

Finally, we think we are entitled. “Hey, I’m a Christian so I can…” or I’m a member of First … Church and that makes me better. Those rules in the Bible are for all you sinners, unsaved, lost. You need them more than I do. And besides, since I am a (name your denomination or church) we are more right than you, so you all just need to fall in line and follow us.

Funny how God can use an animal to remind us of who we are in His Kingdom.

Well, I have to go feed my cat now, maybe he will let me pet him this time.

Learning to love cats, Bro. Tim