Paws, Claws, and Know-It-Alls

When one has a community of cats with unique temperaments in the neighborhood, there will be conflicts. Needing several good hunters to reduce the rodent population that was destroying our garden, we adopted four young cats.

We were happy they remained socially comfortable in their new home with us, although my twelve-pound Zimba pouted for a few days.

One dark night, without warning, peace and security vanished from our deck when an uninvited guest appeared. Let me call him Boss. He stood proud and tall.

His badge of authority was a two-inch scab on the side of his cheek. His dirty yellow coat gave evidence of a bad-hair day. I immediately knew Boss was trouble! His agenda was to dominate. Without provocation, he would stalk the gentlest cats, attacking with a shriek and a bite or slash of his claws! Boss always left behind an intimidated and injured cat with less fur than when he had found it. Very likely, Boss suffered great deprivation and abuse in the past, never having been nurtured and loved as had our integrated cat family.

Are we not all like Boss at times? Many of us have been dropped on the back roads of life, starving for love and emotional security. On the prowl, some seek those they can intimidate. Often, claws are hidden discreetly within sarcasm, unsolicited advice, or a critical spirit. Such attacks in life leave one feeling confused and wounded.

Should we meet someone like this in our community, church, or workplace, how do we maintain the Spirit of Christ and avoid being wounded personally? Immediately, pray for the mind and heart of Christ. Next, practice the art of graciousness, for Romans 12:18 tells us to “live in peace with everyone” (NLT). Step back and allow them to give their opinion without interruption. The next step is the most difficult. Keep your emotions and tone of voice under control! Never allow yourself to be pushed into a negative or defensive mode.

Finally, remember the wise words of C. S. Lewis: “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”*

Dottie Barnett

* C. S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory (New York: HarperCollins, 1980), 182.