Walking by Faith versus Walking by Sight

As I was walking across my leaf-coverd path today, I realized that Iwas walking by faith. . I can't see the uneven ground beneath the leaves, and even the leaves I CAN see are rther blurry in the overcast, almost-evening light. I realize that I literally actuallyhve ben walking by fatih a lot in the past months, because I can't see ground clearly and in the dim light, I can't really see at all. Friends walking with me will often verbally try to guide me, but in the end, they usually just grab my arm and we walk side-by-side.

I read a journal entry I wrote less than a year before I got married, that said roughly, "I don't care what Gordon says, I don['t believe God has anyone for me." Gordon is always teling us that when we pray for each other, we have faith for what the other might not have faith for. Twenty-three years ago, Gordon had faith for me that I would marry. And I did. Having faith for each other is kinda like walking arm-in-arm, lending sight (or perhaps vision) to the one who doesn't have it.

Another aspect that occurred to me was that when we can see clearly, we walk confidently and often directly and quckly from place to place. But when we walk by fatih, we often stumble, don't know exactly where we are headed, perhaps wander a bit, and walk more sloly and tentatively.

We often compare outselves to others, our lives to others' lives, our work to others' work, our homes to others' homes--and we often fall short. But you know, getting a lot done, having a perfect home, having a neat-tidy life, doesn't necessarily mean that a person is on the right path. Perhaps they are walking more by sight than by faith.

But you know (spoken from one who by nature is competetive), life's not a race. Close your eyes so you don't see you neighbors's life to compare to your own. Close your eyes and take God's arm and walk by faith. Who cares wher w end up or how meandering the path is--it's the company that counts.

Gary speaks cat!

We have been cleaning, sorting and boxing things to kind of make up for not having built a closet yet or even finished our bathroom remodel. Gary has gone through and repacked just about everything and the wall is lined neatly, nearly to the ceiling with boxes. Apparently, Mermott was overseeing all of this.

When Gary came out for dinner, he inadvertently left Mermott in there, fast asleep on the shelf on the wall. When we heard an enormous crash and the sound of fragile items smashing, he remembered Mermott was in there. When we went to check it out, boxes were overturned and there was almost no entry into the room, and though I called, Mermott was nowhere to be seen.

Gary and I started in immediately on cleaning up and after about 10 minutes, Mermottt appeared from some hiding hole, apparently satisfied that the crashing was now over. I picked her up and petted her and asked her if she was okay. She chirped at me and Gary translated confidently, "Milk please, and make it a double!"

Mermott and Cain

My cat Mermott, eldest daughter of Queen Nermal, only kitten in her litter. has been a little haughty lately. She has this household figured out. She sits on my desk every morning for her pets. After the dog is put away for the night, she calls me into the kitchen, chirping as she leads me along, looking back frequently to make sure I am following, and when we get to the kitchen, looking at the refrigerator and very politely and clearly saying, "Milk?" She is comfortable. She has my attention.

The problem is that she thinks her position is a one-cat-only position. Nermal, always sits at my feet. That's okay with Mermott, because she has a "higher" spot, on my desk. The other day after petting WrongWay (Mermott's niece), I put her on the back of my office chair, and when Mermott entered the room and saw that there was someone occupying a position as high as hers, oh the tone of voice she used! I'm sure I don't have the vocabulary to translate THAT.

But from MY standpoint, I enjoy all my cats. I feed them all. I care for them all. So why does Mermott think she needs to have something no one else has? The truth is, each relationship with each cat is unique, simply because each cat is unique. Susie comes in, eats, and goes out as if this were a fast-food joint. She will allow me to hold her and pet her outside, especially int he hay barn, but not so much in the house. Nermal is at my feet no matter where I go. Mermott is the only one who asks for milk. Buster keeps my chair warm. So why does Mermott think no one else should get pets or a spot by me, it doesn't take anything away from her uniqueness. There is no shortage of attention for Mermott because of any of the other cats, no shortage of food....What's up with wanting to be high mucky-muck?

“Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? ⁷ If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

I suppose no one, not even me, expects a cat to overcome the sin crouching at the door. But I find it interesting that most of MY relationship problems come directly from my similarity to Cain. When my friend is favored by God, I should rejoice, but instead, I'm jealous. I am SO Cain. How do I get out of THAT?