Hidden Agenda?

by Kitty Chappell

Smokey was king of the household until we brought home Single-our eight-week-old bundle of enthusiasm. It is understandable that an older cat would be upset by the arrival of a young upstart kitten, but Single would have been better tolerated had he been born with good manners. Single's free spirit increased with each passing day. No class at all. And no desire to learn the house rules, much less live by them. It was like he thought our home was his frat house and he was there to party!

Smokey had been a gift from my friend Arlene, a devout cat lover who had painstakingly placed each treasure from her mamma cat's litter. Although he'd had his rebellious moments as a youngster, Smokey had quickly developed a respect for rules: No jumping on the sofa, no sitting in the chairs unless invited onto one's lap for loving and stroking, no jumping onto the kitchen counter (no matter how hungry), and definitely no jumping onto the dining room table-which was exactly what Single did this particular afternoon.

Just as I entered the room, Single leaped into the middle of the table,

barely missing the centerpiece. Smokey, dozing on the floor a few feet away, opened his eyes and raised his head. He glared at Single, then looked in my direction as if to ask, "Well, what are you going to do about that?"

"That is NO!" I said sharply to Single.

Since the beginning of time in the kingdom of our household, no is a

word to be respected by cats. It commands instant attention and obedience, otherwise the offending subject is banished to the outside world for a time of serious reflection. And if that's at dinnertime, too bad.

Single had heard the word no before, but as he often did, he suddenly developed a case of deafness. I repeated the word again, louder and with more authority. Single began to bathe himself, fully ignoring the movement of my lips. It was obvious all he was hearing was "blah, blah, blah." I was barking out the commands and he was saying, "Talk to the paw!"

Smokey now sat at full attention, awaiting the sentencing. He knew Single had broken the rules and that there would be some serious consequences to his behavior.

I picked up a newspaper, rolled it, and swatted the table loudly near

Single, who simply moved over a few inches and resumed primping. By that time Smokey was almost in cardiac arrest. He was ready to start calling in the vigilantes if I didn't take care of the matter myself. "Where's the justice?! Where's the justice?!" I could almost hear him growl through his meows.

"Single, NO!" I said sharply as I swatted him lightly on the behind with the paper. Finally getting a clue, Single, in slow motion, sauntered across the table and jumped down.

Smokey looked at Single, and then at me as if to ask, "That's it? That is all you're going to do?" The punishment phase of the trial definitely had not gone as he had expected.

As Single strolled past him, Smokey gave me one last inquiring look.

Apparently not satisfied with my passiveness, he suddenly whacked Single on the side of the head with his big paw, bowling him over. Though Single was unscathed, Smokey walked from the room with head and tail high, satisfied at having taken the law into his own paw.

I can relate to Smokey's feelings. I often question God about His lack of action regarding certain people in the King's household who don't always live by His house rules. I feel they should be put in their place with a stronger hand of discipline. Why does He let them get away with so much? There are times when I want to verbally whack them upside the head too. But just when I am tempted to reach out and swat them with my self-righteous judgment, I am reminded of all those times I've arrogantly ignored my Master and arrogantly continued in my bad behavior. I'm also reminded of something Jesus said about casting the first stone. Oops! Maybe it's better to just keep our paws and our self-righteous attitudes to ourselves.

Father, thank You for not giving me what I deserve. If You did, You would either be swatting me all the time, or I would be banished to the outside for all eternity. Please help me to be as patient with others as You are with me. Amen

Why do you judge your brothers or sisters in Christ? And why do you think you are better than they are? We will all stand before God to be judged, because it is written in the Scriptures:

"'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'Everyone will bow before me; everyone will say that I am God.'"

So each of us will have to answer to God. For that reason we should stop judging each other.

Romans 14:10-13 ncv