Christian Living

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SCAREDYCAT

Barn swallows fluttered by the open window, dive-bombing the bushes and then whipping back up into the sky. Mickey Moose trembled with excitement, his gray tail flittering back and forth violently, his teeth chattering noisily. He jumped onto the window screen in an attempt to catch a prize. He was thrilled, in cat heaven.

I decided Mickey needed some quality time outdoors so I put on his leash and we went out to explore the world of green. Mickey exuded life. He attacked flowers and jumped up a maple tree. He peered down in glee, peeking out behind the leaves to play hide and seek with me. Finally it was time to go in. Reluctantly I maneuvered him toward the front door.

Mickey spotted something lying on the ground by the front door. He sniffed. Then without a warning, he spun around and dashed back towards the yard. Luckily I held on to the leash as I watched amazed as Mickey reached the end of the blue leash and flipped over and over, head over heels, dark gray over pale white, somersaulting in the air repeatedly. He was crazed, terror-stricken. I was frightened for him. What was wrong?

I took a few steps forward, loosening the leash. He calmed down, but was panting like a distance runner. I turned to look where he had sniffed and spied a dead barn swallow, its lifeless head bent at a crooked angle. Death had shocked Mickey. It took the help of a kind neighbor and some quick steps to get Mickey inside. He ran straight under the bed still attached to the leash, hiding in the shadows. I didn’t see him until hours later. It took two weeks to get Mickey comfortable enough to go outside again. Even then he scurried past the front door as if in sudden fear of bird ghosts..

I am still puzzled at exactly what terrified Mickey. I do know I tried to comfort and reassure him, but he was unapproachable. I couldn’t communicate my love to him in a way he could understand at that point. I couldn’t reach his level. The only thing that saved him from running out into the street and getting hurt was the leash, the lifeline to me and safety.

I’m just like Mickey Moose. I get frightened and run away from God when all he wants to do is reassure me and help me. But God is holy and I am not so there is distance between us. Because of sin I have broken communication with God. Then Jesus comes to me, both man and God. Because of Christ’s death and resurrection I have access to God. Because of Christ’s humanity, he can understand my feeble attempts to communicate. Jesus has restored communication. I can feel his reassuring arms around me in moments of desperation. Jesus Christ is the lifeline between me and God. I don’t have to panic at the thought of death or the unknown. I have a Master who cared enough to be a lifeline between me and the Father. I have Jesus.

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