The tale of young Captain Kidd

Back in the days when Kidd was young and did not have a penny to his name, he often sneaked his way toward the big blue door. Some light would seep through an old, thick pane of glass in the middle of the door. Young Kidd did wonder what was out there, on the other side of the big blue door, which always slammed closed too quickly when he tried to make a sneaky escape. Although his size was quite imposing, and his agility could easily be rivaled with. But one day, some workers kept going in and out through this doorway, and Kidd suddenly saw an opportunity and made a run for it! He was out! No one noticed it, he could run free!

-- Historical accounts representing Kidd's side of what happened in the next two days have remained on the hazier side of things to this day. --

During the third day, he was spotted. After Kidd had worked his way into the garden of a stranger's home, the matron of the domain noticed him squatting in the corner outside. The lady approached. Reassuringly, she came to him. As she held him, she saw, written on the pendant he carried around his neck, the key to what she would do with poor, young Kidd. Following instructions that had been written long before, she sent message to his home...

It was only about 1/2 a kilometer away; Kidd's master and the father wasted no time to get to her house. We quickly brought him back home and closed the door. And Kidd swallowed a bowl of food. And Kidd rested. He was exhausted. He was hungry. He barely moved for the next couple days. He finally knew he was safe.

Kidd was a pretty dumb cat. But he was my cat, and I loved him. He wasn't always kind to the people at home. He didn't understand why he wouldn't have his way. He certainly could not fend for himself. We were surprised he actually survived getting across the streets of Pérols he evidently crossed. I always took care of him, fed him, cleaned up after him, played with him, petted him, scratched his head... And Kidd kept wanting to run out into the dangerous world, of which he knew nothing. At home, Kidd would occasionally bite or claw us.

Just like we so easily do. We have a God who loves us, provides for us, takes care of us, gives us minds to think, resources to enjoy, responsibilities to grow with, and boundaries to protect us. God loves us more and watches out for us better than I did for Kidd. And we think we'll be happier if we can go past those boundaries. Sometimes we do go do our own thing. And the world hurts us. It may get close to destroying us. So we get back into the fold of God, and then we feel safe. We realize our error and repent. But how long does that last? A few days go by, and the "door" opens up again... What happens next?
If you have a pet, let it reveal you to yourself. Is its behavior a reflection in some ways of your relationship to your master? Maybe an exaggeration of some aspects of it? Next time your animal misbehaves, it rejects your authority, or it thinks it knows better than you what's best, take a look at your life and see if you need to walk back in through the big blue door as well to where the loving God keeps you safe and well-fed.

This story was inspired by what someone at church said this past Sunday, seeing a picture of faith in the behavior of his cat.