The last two days, we have had a cat wondering around the outside of our church and whenever I walk outside it follows me everywhere I go. As Rachel and I sit in our offices the cat sits in the parking lot meowing for attention. Until we got our cat a few years ago, I was never a cat lover and felt that I would be the last person in the world to be called a cat owner.
As this stray cat meows for our attention, I'm led to wonder where it came from and if it is missing from owners that nurtured it, cared for and loved it? Part of me wants to go outside and nurture this cat, if only to stop its meowing, but the other part of me knows that this cat will never leave if given attention.
As we will soon be entering the season of Advent and as we prepare to welcome the Christ child, we are also busy working with many different charities to help provide for the needy. But the question I pose to us this week is: As much as we provide for the wants of the needy, do we listen to their spiritual cries for attention or do we ignore them in the hopes that like the cat, they will simply go away?
2 Corinthians 6:18 states: "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." Brothers and Sisters we are all like the cat meowing for attention, and the Lord has chosen to nurture us, love us, in the knowledge and thanksgiving that we will never leave him.
My prayer for us all this week is that as we provide for the physical need of the needy, we also work on providing for the emotional and spiritual needs of those that are crying in the wilderness, cities, towns, and even parking lots.
As I write this the cat has left the area, and I contemplate the actions of my intention.
Have a Blessed Thanksgiving Everyone
Pastor Tim.
