Cat Faith (Updated from 1/13/2015)

faith

fāTH

noun

"Complete trust or confidence in someone or something."

-- Google

Witness the complete confidence of a cat. 

The ability to, nonchalantly, mount a rounded metal railing, ten stories above the ground, and "walk the walk."  Now the cat is focused on the photographer. This would be when the fire engine goes by on the street below, siren wailing. The camera pans to the engine below, then back to the cat. Imagine I am now standing behind the cat. I have taken the opportunity, that mass noise has provided me, and used it to my advantage. I am about to prove why man is the dominant species, top of the food chain, numero uno, and cats are lousy multi-taskers. That's right; as soon as the siren stops I'm going to lean in and let out a loud raspberry behind the cat. That'll shake up the ol' confidence level a tad. The cat'll be shaking for a good hour. Some touch-up paint will also be required, to hide the claw marks that it will etch into the steel as it tries not to plunge to its death on the concrete below. Do cats really land on their feet? I think it depends on the height and the landing surface. Either one might render the answer a moot point.

But, that's the confidence of a cat.  Cat "faith," if you will.

I always hear of stories where cats fall from great heights and land on their feet.  I always wondered what the cat thought after it hit.  "Wow!  That was really stupid!"  "Wow!  That really freakin' hurt!"  "Wow!  Didn't think it looked that high!"  "Wow!  Stupid dog!  You die tonight!"  "Wow!  Scared the poop outta me, stupid human!"  "Vee av vays of making you pay... when you're sleeping... soon, but not tonight."

Would I raspberry this cat?  Oh hell yes!  That's the little devil in me.  But, I really love animals and I certainly wouldn't do it from a tenth-floor balcony, nor on anything that may require work on my part to repair.  And then, one has to consider the whole "nine lives" thing.  I think it's a floor for each of the cat's nine lives, so the tenth... well, I would never forgive myself.  The cat is going to exact revenge on me sooner or later, as it is, at least my cat would.  That would be when I wake up at oh-dark-thirty with tabby on my chest, watching me while I sleep and thinking at me, "No. No, not tonight... but, soon."  And it creeps me out so badly I can't go back to sleep, and I end up playing Freecell until 5:00 when I finally give up on any thought of sleep and go make coffee.  Yeah, cat revenge is insidious.

The faith of a cat is similar to what God expects of the faith of man.  Have faith that, no matter what happens in life, you have been given the tools which will enable you to rise above it and carry on.  It may shake you up for a bit, and rattle your confidence, but you have been given the gift to rise up and forge ahead.  You have been endowed with superior knowledge so that when a moron sneaks up and scares the devil out of you, you know what you have to do with that tube of superglue.  Not tonight, but... soon. 

Okay, so maybe that isn't why God gave you the ability to learn and gather knowledge.  But you have what no other animal has, the ability to comprehend faith in God.

Right?  Right? Well...

A herd of elephants will return to the site where an elephant died, and mourn.  A monkey will adopt an orphan and mourn the death of the mother.  A pig will act as the eyes for a blind horse without prodding.  A lion will adopt the motherless lamb as a sibling, and other more amazing stories abound.  And they leave us with the idea of "self-awareness" in animals, the concept of "feeling of mind," which psychologists think needs to exist in order to have a concept of God.  Animals with a concept of God?  If they do, do they also have faith, a belief in something for which there is little or no proof?

"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, 

Than are dreamt of in your philosophy."

William Shakespeare, "Hamlet"

Maybe I'll leave the cat alone.

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

I fervently hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with the United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and, finally, a senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Western Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research.

Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony: tolerantpastor@gmail.com