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Mornings are wonderful things. Every morning, there is a feeling of freshness and newness, one can almost sense the potential of the coming day. Unfortunately, I'm not a morning person in that I really really hate getting out of bed one nanosecond before I absolutely have to. However, if I am awake for whatever reason, I do relish that feeling of knowing that this is a new day, full of options and decisions to make, that it could be good or bad, depending on what choices I make, both practical and "spiritual". I can make myself have a great day as long as I stick to the decision that I am going to enjoy the day for what it is and look on the bright side of things.Two days ago, I found myself awake at about 6:30am, a full hour and a half before I have to get up. The sun was streaming through the blinds, crisp and bright, with the hint of promises yet to be fulfilled. A glorious, wonderful, heavenly start to the day. I don't chat to God half as often as I should, but the pure joy of the morning was the sound of his voice, softly calling my name.
Mug of steaming coffee in one hand, I dusted of my well worn but sadly neglected Bible, and started to read. I knew it hasn't been open in earnest for several years, and a twinge of guilt crossed my heart. However, it was just the thing, nay, the only thing, that was appropriate for such a divine moment.
Then Shmoggleberry jumped up on the table, between Bible and my eyes, and demanded attention. He would not be swayed, and therefore I gave up revisiting my faith almost before I had started. But Shmoggleberry was so affectionate and loving, so sweet and purry, and showed that persistence and insistence for attention only a cat can demonstrate, there was really nothing else I could do. The spare one and a half hours, which I had intended to spend relishing in the Creation, in the Glory, and in the Mystery, was now being squandered on a most selfish creature.
Later, I felt more than a little guilty for wasting "God time" on Shmoggleberry. I know that I should really spend far more time with Him than I do, and that window of opportunity, that perfect moment, had been fritted away on doing something that I do almost without conscious thought, loving and giving attention to my cat.
But you know, God was still with me, and listening. He reminded me, again, very gently, hat although I thought that I had ignored Him for something else, that in reality I had spent the whole time with Him anyway. Although I hadn't been reading his word, my heart was still being written upon. Shmoggleberry, like the sunlight and the coffee, are parts of Creation, and I was relishing in their very being. All that time, I was seeing his Glory shine down upon me, the glorious perfection of the humble domestic cat, perfect at being exactly what God intended cats to be. And I had beheld part of the great Mystery too; the love that extends not only across all human cultures and boundaries, but a love that can even go across species, the mystery of love between cat and human, part of the greater love that God has for His whole Creation.
That day turned out not to be a good day, but a great day. I really do have to spend some more quality quiet time, just communing with God and His Creation, in awe and wonder.
Copyright © Vicky Chapman
August 12, 1998
ADDENDUM: It was such a great day, I wasn't fazed by the 2 "intention to disconnect" notices I got in the mail that evening. Actually, I just laughed, and thought "God will fix it". I sold some of my employee shares yesterday, and I've got more than enough to cover all the outstanding bills, and just enough left over to put the flyscreens on the house. Think I'll have to go to church this week.
NOTE: I don't want to bash "religion" onto anyone - I hope y'all can interpret this through you own beliefs, and feel that wondrous feeling as I did.
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