One of the great blessings that age affords is the reality that gainful employment is no longer a consideration much less an option. The blessing manifests itself to the everyday in that schedules are far less rigid and the thinking process is allowed to run it's course, in it's time. Without an alarm set for 00:dark:30, a freedom is presented to rouse oneself into the still of the night and simply reflect. Recently, one of those thoughts that has bounced around is the musing that we share our planet with a menagerie of creatures. A few, we choose to cohabitate with.
The Bible tells us that God presented Adam with a number of choices for a helpmate (Genesis 2:18-20). Thankfully, the selection process progressed beyond the four legged variety of companions. However, a rumination persists: Are those animals which we label "domesticated" the ancestors of those creations introduced to Adam all those ages past? Foolishness to ponder the unanswerable. Yet, those creatures with which we live, possess God-given traits. They leave their mark and we are richer for their godly touch.
Written accounts of two such gifts can be found here:
Now there will be a third.
The three little words "I've been thinking..." never fail to twitch my antenna whenever they come out of Jamie's mouth. Inevitably, my blissful routine is soon to be interrupted. Now translated, those words really mean, "I've made a decision". Plus, and here's the tricky part, "and it involves you..." - an interpretation that took years of marriage for me to decipher. Once my attention is focused, a ritual, dare I say dance, ensues. She leads. I object. She insists. I rationalize. She counters. I try to reason. She voices wisdom. We get in the car.
So it was not long ago, "...we need a cat".
Jamie had already picked out a cat listed on the local cat orphanage/prison's web site. The cat's rap sheet read in part, "Needs quiet home. No kids. No other pets. Shy boy looking for peace and a master to love." I had to admit, our sedentary lifestyle sounded like a perfect fit.
When we arrived at the rescue we found Jamie's companion of choice to be an 8 year old Maine Coon named Leon. Large, with orange fur and white boots, Leon's crowning glory is actually his tail - outsized and fluffy. Besides their size, Maine Coons are known for their intelligence and in keeping with his breed, Leon voluntarily gave one, single rub of his flanks against each of our shins during that initial meeting before retreating. An act suspiciously self serving as he no doubt understood that a small show of affection would guarantee an escape from his confinement. Yes, Jamie was smitten and I'm hesitant to admit that my heartstrings were tugged a bit as well.
Besides intelligence, we've come to learn that Maine Coons are by nature talkative and playful, friendly and gentle. They are known for following their humans around doglike from which strong bonds soon form. However, they are generally not the proverbial "lap cat". Staying near but not necessarily in contact are strong traits.
The age old debate of Nature vs Nurture is in full throat with Leon. How much of his behavior is purely feline, genetically predetermined as far back as the garden? How much of his ways have been learned, if not encouraged, along his path in this fallen world?
Once home, an ongoing acclimation process began for Leon...and for us the more so. We continue to be amazed by his attentiveness to our every move. If one of us leaves the room while he is napping, somehow he senses, and will literally run after us to see what we're up to. It is quite endearing to hear the muted rhythm of his padded paws meeting the hardwood floor which he combines with quiet chirps that just have to mean "wait... wait...wait for me". In addition, that single rub of his flanks on our shins has increased to multiples accompanied by deep purrs.
But that affection is nearly always initiated on his terms. Early on we learned not to approach him from behind and attempt to pet him. Especially with something in our hands. Such actions were met with a glare and a swipe of the claws. Persistence on our part resulted in full on attacks which in one instance drew blood. Sadly, we now understand why Leon was incarcerated on at least two separate occasions. Negative conditioning, perhaps physical abuse, at the hands of a previous owner being the presumed culprit.
Regardless all that, Jamie is determined that love and positive reinforcement will undo any and all bad habits learned from the past.
In the meantime, Leon seems content to practice the Theological Virtues to the best of his abilities. Despite the fact that faith, hope and love are impossible to perfect in our sinful state, we persevere. Leon carries on as well. While our faith is based on an assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1), Leon is simply finding confidence that a human's touch is not synonymous with pain. As for hope, we place our ultimate expectation in a Living Savior (Psalm 42:11) while Leon patiently anticipates our return at the front door. Finally love. Ours is sacrificial (I Corinthians 13:4-8). Leon is given to emotional displays.
Now that we share some part of the same path, Leon and the companionship he provides are becoming an ever increasing source of joy and a valued reminder of what lies ahead.
The hour is coming when the earth and all the works within it will pass away (II Peter 3:10). Then a new age will arrive where the wolf shall dwell with the lamb and the young lion with the calf (Isaiah 11:6). Indeed, the Three Virtues will abide in perfection as they once did in the days of Eden.
I Corinthians 13:13 NIV
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