Pete Has Come To Play
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It is the early hours of the morning, the time I love to get up and, in the peaceful presence, each day, write. That can be anything from thankfulness, expressions of joy at events, circumstances or simply because I feel joyful. It can be times of deep reflection, but I write something every day.
Yesterday my writing time was shaping into something that looked like this week’s blog. However, today as I revisit and again sit in the presence to write, Pete comes to play.
Pete is our cat. He has many pleasures in life, one of them is riding in the empty washing basket from the clothesline to the laundry. Another is jumping onto my lap whenever I am sitting down. That could be in an easy chair, when I am at the desk with my laptop or while I am on a Zoom meeting. He doesn’t mind as long as there is a warm lap to curl up on, he starts purring like a tractor.
This morning, with my bright blanket and laptop upon my knee, I was in a deeply reflective moment when a meow sliced through the serenity. A sizing up of the current situation and Pete leaps up beside the said device and starts to maneuver into the very slim space between body and computer. Rubbing up against my hands as well as the corner of the laptop, tail twitching, paws at times on the keypad adding his own notations to the page.
Pete has come to play, to cuddle, to be affectionate. A fleeting moment of frustration and then I find myself smiling and thinking of the delight of a young child doing something similar. We think nothing of stopping our task to lift them onto our laps and delight in them. Pete is not a demanding cat. While at times very vocal, around mealtime or when he has come in soaking wet from being caught in the rain and demands to be dried down! Mostly he is very independent and requires little maintenance. So, this morning, with a warm feeling in my heart, a smile upon my face, I acquiesce and stop writing, give him cuddles and an affection rub. As I do, I am reminded of the most incredible open-eyed vision I experienced some years back.
We were staying at the Lake Ferry Hotel, South Wairarapa. It was a weekend escape from a busy work schedule for us both. A time to switch off and relax. A sunny winter’s day, my husband had settled in for a nap while I took myself outside to the verandah, to enjoy the sun and write my weekly letter to my eldest granddaughter away at Lincoln University.
In a moment’s pause to consider what to write next, I looked up at the lake for inspiration. While breathing in the beauty of the reflective sunlight off the water and the rolling hills in the distance, a vision appeared over the scene. Huge arms unfurled to reveal equally huge hands dropping down to the water’s edge. My child self, dressed in a simple white linen gown was running across the top of the water to those arms. I watched in awe, as the huge hands scooped me up for the loving embrace I knew was coming. Then the vision ended.
Wide awake, eyes open, that vision was so powerful! If ever there was an experience to reveal the Father’s love for me, that was it! The sheer delight of knowing He stopped to draw me into his arms, into his embrace was life changing.
Stopping for the one, enjoying the moment, delighting in connection. What joy there is in that. We are designed for connection, for belonging, for community. Today let’s make a moment to stop for the one – a call in, a cuddle, a laugh together, with pets as well as people.
