Slink or Run

He walked to the door of the room. Keeping his profile out of the door he slowly looked out it and down the hall. "SHE" was out there where the hall opened into the living area. Standing absolutely silent, scenarios began playing out in his mind. He could remain where he was. He could run, leap, and pray he was faster. He could dart to the room across the hall, luring her in and then dash past her. He could slink down the hall willing himself to blend into the floor. He could walk, tail held high, down the hall and ignore her existence. Or, maybe a combination . . . or cry for mom to come rescue him from the monster in the hall.

"SHE" turned her head and stared at him. He returned to the window to continue squirrel watching. "SHE" rose and ran to the door of the room--only to have mom shut it in her face before she could enter. "Ha, take that beast!" he laughed to himself. For a time he had mom . . . and the room . . . to himself.

Unfortunately mom left the room a few minutes later, with the door left slightly ajar. He sidled up to the opening and peeked out once more. He found a pair of cold, blue eyes on the other side waiting for him. He couldn't back down again.

Sucking in a deep breath, he prepared to launch himself through the door and over her back. If his leap was just right he could be down the hall before she realized he had moved. If things didn't go well, he would high-tail it to the room across the hall and leap onto the counter. He crouched slightly, prepared to spring, and . . . she barked! His spring fell and instead he flew through her legs and raced down the hall.

She spun and was on him so quick he barely felt it as her teeth grazed his fur. Before she could get a grip he slid out of her reach and leaped onto the counter in the other room. Whirling he hissed with all his might, turned his back and began grooming his hindquarters.

Once he completed his bath, ate a bit, drank some water, and explored the smells and wonders on the counter, he lounged along the edge of the counter. "SHE" was no longer in sight--however he could hear her breathing in the hall. Stay where he was or go? What was his pleasure--other than torturing "HER" along the way?

Determining his plan of action, he gently--silently--dropped to the floor. With head and tail held high he slowly meandered down the hall, past "HER" and sashayed into the larger room. With a tiny leap he went up onto the trunk/coffee table and draped himself across its expanse.

"SHE" got up and trotted past him on her way to the kitchen. With great disdain he swatted her tail as she went past. She whirled to look at him, but all she saw was him cleaning his paw. He paused, looked over the paw at her before returning to his task of cleaning between each and every toe. Victory was his!

Following mom into the kitchen later, "SHE" flew around the second entrance and pounced on him with both paws, knocking him to the floor. Standing over him, he could not rise. With sparkling eyes and quivering tail, her body screamed "gotcha!" He was pinned.

Without even looking at them, mom called over her shoulder "Dita, leave the kitten alone! You're being a bully." He stood, pulling himself to his full height and walked off to wrap around his mother's ankles--shadowed by a large black and white dog. He was "THE CAT" and he won!

Often we find situations in our lives where we find ourselves deciding between courses of action. Should we keep a low profile--slink through the situation? Should we run, try to escape? Or, perhaps we could calmly walk forward--one step at a time.

No matter which choice we make; sometimes it works . . . and sometimes it doesn't. God, however, is always there. Whether directly intervening on our behalf, allowing us to learn from our mistakes, or watching (often with amusement) as we walk/run/slink along--God is there.

No matter how often we succeed or fail, God we know we can trust in you to be present. We may turn our heads in shame, but you wait for us to turn to you to comfort, encourage, cheer, and lead us along our way. Thanks, for loving us so much that you trust us and give us the freedom to choose. So be it. Amen.