The Lap

The early morning chill in the house kept her moving to stay warm. With the morning tasks complete she went to her chair to rest for a while. As she sat she drew a warm lap blanket around her shoulders while the cats followed her--anticipating some "cuddle time."

First the old man jumped onto her lap--claiming his place and kneading her as he settled himself. Next the young cat joined them. He circled the lap, noted the placement of the old man, and curled into her just below his brother. Stretching, he leaned back into the old man using his body as a backstop or body pillow. The old man reached out with one paw and stroked the kitten. The curled together--in their symbiotic relationship and warmed their mother with their body heat, while warming her heart with their purrs of contentment. The three sat together. Each drew comfort and love from the others. Their world was peaceful, quiet contentment embraced them.

The dogs came into the room. One curled up beside them--not touching, yet drawing their contentment around her as well. The other paced. She moved from one location to another. No place seemed to bring her the quietness she craved. Finally, she came and stood at the feet of her mother--gazing at the cats curled onto her lap, drawing and receiving love. She pushed her head onto the lap as well.

With mom's feet slightly elevated she slowly placed her front paws onto mom's lap and slid up as far as she could reach. Moving her head to the other side, she could almost touch the cats. Slowly she moved farther and farther into mom's lap--not an easy task for a seventy pound dog. Finally, she lifted her back feet and scooted up so that she also curled onto mom's lap and legs.

Sharing the space with the cats did not bother her. She moved her head so that the back of her head pushed back into the younger cat and sighed. She did not try to play or move about, but cuddled with her mother and brothers (not that she would willingly admit to loving her feline siblings). Peace reigned.

As time passed, the dog simply could not resist the opportunity to sniff her brothers--which caused them to move and reposition themselves. Within a few minutes she rose and left the comfort of the lap. Place her face in the middle of her brothers the licking and teasing started once again. They hissed. She nosed them. They moved. She chased. They ran. She followed. They leapt to a high spot. She begged for the game to continue.

Even though the "moment" was broken, they had spent time enjoying the lap together--the proverbial "lion lying down with the lamb." They had put their differences aside. They recognized their needs and lived in harmony--even if only for a few minutes. Even though they now ran, hissed, chased, and swatted at one another--it was done so in a kinder, gentler, playful manner. The lap had changed them.

Humans are often the same. Their natures are different--their perceptions, expectations are not the same. They fuss and feud over trivial points. Sometimes the fuss escalates to horrible, atrocious events in which being the victor blinds them to the similarities. Then something--some event or catastrophe--causes momentary peace, mutual cooperation, putting aside differences for a common purpose.

Those moments are when commonalities take priority and we "rest in God's lap." God is a place of comfort, to rest, to draw strength, to recuperate--a place of peace. God is our anchor, compass, and guide. God is the place to which we return when we are lost or confused. God is our source.

When everything in our lives swirls around us, God, you are our refuge. Yours is the lap onto which we crawl to cry out our pain, to put aside our differences, to draw love, to find our balance once again. God, your lap is a place where we are all welcome--because we are your children and you love us. Help us to remember to love one another as you love us. So be it. Amen.