He is just that....spooked out of his mind most of the time....He's a very timid cat and very skittish.
He is also not particularily attractive. He has a rather long neck and a long wimpy thin tail. He is skinny and has a pitiful meow. He sort of lopes rather than runs....its not attractive.
From what his former owner told me of his short life it is no wonder that he has trust issues. She said she found him as a kitten who was about a month old. He and his mother had somehow been seperated so Spooky would try to find other litters and try to nurse with those kittens provided the mother would let him nurse.
Yeah...talk about issues.
When we first got him he spent the first four days under various beds in the house, coming out only at night to answer nature's call and to stealthily eat. He also threw up alot.
The throwing up was what made me finally allow him to be an outside cat. The first day or two we didnt see him, but cats being cats, he returned to where the free food was.
I made him a little bed in the garage and sprinkled it with catnip and put lots of warm towels. He soon got the picture that this was his bed and he would be in it by 8:30ish when I usually go close the garage door. He was still extrememly skittish and would hide behind the water heater when anyone would enter the garage.
Everyday when I went out there I talked to him and would try to pet him.
Slowly slowly slowly...he let me touch him with one finger... Then he let me pet him...Then he let me hold him...Then he let me pick him up and carry him.
Finally he gave me the cat-seal-of-approval....the head butt. When a cat butts his head to yours...he is telling you that he finds you absolutely dishy!!
Well last night it was freezing out...literally freezing. Spooky spent the night in the garage, but in the morning when I opened the door to the garage he was sitting there shivering a bit. I decided that he could come in the house if he wanted to...it was warm and cozy inside...the heat was on, the sun was shining.
I was secretly hoping that he would come in and sit on my lap while I watched my Ti-voed Greys Anatomy. (it was early..no on else was up...total Mommy time)
But, he wouldnt come in.
He was so annoying...here was this cozy warm house, this yummy snuggly tummy to lie on and he was not going to come to it.
I could not entice, motivate or cajorle him to come in!!
UGH!!!
So I let him in the garage and went to watch my show...
but DANG IT...I couldnt enjoy it because I knew he was cold!!
So with a huff of annoyance, I went to the garage and scoooped him up and went back in. I laid down on the sofa still holding him and pulled the fluffy blanket over me and him...all the while petting him.
He was tense at first, but then he melted into the heat and the quiet. I was rewarded with the deep throaty purr that cats do when they are happy and content.
When the house started to wake up he jumped off of my lap and skittered about the house checking things out. Once satisfied that the world was not coming to an end he gave me the ultimate compliment and jumped up onto my chest and lay down. He purred and blinked as if to say..." Well....what are you waiting for....pet me!"
So of course I did.
What struck me later today is what a picture of the gospel this is...I know... a cat preaching the gospel? but doesnt Psalms say that all creation screams God's name or something like that?
I thought how sometimes i am like stubborn Spooky...how I would rather indulge myself in my past hurts and insecurities rather than take a chance at what a loving God has for me--healing and security and true satisfaction. . Id rather stay out in the cold than take a chance at sitting in the presence of God. Id rather do it myself and freeze rather than allow God to take care of me...even though God's warm house is better than anything I can imagine. **
Hopefully like Spooky I will learn (even though I know this lesson is one that I continually learn) that God is better than anything else in m life...no matter how much it feels like SAFTEY or SECURITY, the only place that I can truly know peace is with GOD ...that sitting out in the cold garage is ludacrious when I could be in God's warm and Holy Presence.
** And to Courtney who I know will say something...No, I am not equating myself God in this scenario!!! And remind me to write a post about that day!!!
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