Unauthorized Adventures: A Lesson from Our Labs’ Favorite Feline

On By Beth AlisanIn Lessons

This month our Labradors are stepping aside and allowing their favorite feline to take center stage.

 Our tortoise shell kitty named Reeses Pieces came to us as a young cat fresh from the wild.  With the hardships of outdoor life at the forefront of her mind, Reeses readily embraced her new indoor life. However, each year when spring arrives and the windows are opened to catch the sun warmed breezes, those old memories of cold winter nights, rainy days, and hunger pangs take second stage to memories of stalking and catching birds.  It’s the time of year when Reeses goes out of her way to find opportunities to slip outside and take an unauthorized adventure. 

Like the morning, the dogs woke me earlier than usual and, in my grogginess, I failed to shut the deck door completely.  While the dogs took their time perusing the yard, Reeses diligently worked at prying the door open.  By the time the dogs and I returned to the house, it stood wide open.  The shine of my flashlight revealed two golden eyes peering at me from our ash tree. 

Or the time, the dogs and I found Reeses proudly standing in the driveway waiting for us to return from our morning walk.  She waltzed up to her canine companions, rubbed her back against their muzzles, then promptly turned, raced through the front yard, and dove under the porch.  An investigation revealed that she had applied just enough pressure to an unsecured screen and popped it out of place.

Catching Reeses used to be tricky as her wild ways seemed to kick in as soon as she crossed the threshold. Fortunately, she never ventured beyond our tree lines. With patience, persistence, and a bowl of cat food we would eventually catch her.

This year marks her fifth year of domestic life and with it has come a marked change in her attitude about being outside.  When she manages to embark on an unauthorized adventure, all I need to do is walk nonchalantly by her and she’ll come over to me and either flop down at my feet showing her belly or begin rubbing against my legs.  Her message is clear, “Will you please return me to where I belong?”

Reeses’ outings this spring got me wondering about the number of unauthorized adventures I find myself taking.  It’s usually those opportunities that pop up unexpectedly.  You know the ones that look so good and inviting that you fail to stop and consult the Lord about the wisdom of venturing out the door (or window in our cat’s case) and down that new avenue.  Inevitably halfway into the adventure, you realize you’re headed away from the place you belong.  Some are innocuous but others could potentially have life-altering consequences if continued. 

Our cat’s unauthorized adventures reminded me that

Not every open door is an opportunity to be taken.

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

Proverbs 14:12

The stronger my line of communication with the Lord, the quicker I’ll realize I’m headed the wrong way and will come to him asking for help to get back on track.

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:11

© 2023, Lessons from a Lab, Beth Alisan.  All Rights Reserved.

Postscript

For those who enjoyed this kitty tale but would also enjoy a dose of Labrador life, I share with you another installment of Paws and Reflect by my blogging friend David @ David’s Daily Dose.  Join Buck, the chocolate Labrador as he travels with Jesus through Capernaum and meets the tax collector Matthew.  Simply click here or on the picture below to read “Paws and Reflect:  Finding More Strays.“

27 thoughts on “Unauthorized Adventures: A Lesson from Our Labs’ Favorite Feline”

  2. I really love how you make such strong biblical truths stick in my head by the stories you tell. This one about Reeses makes me think of the Gibeonites in Joshua 9. They were scared of the Israelites so they tricked them into a treaty with them by acting like they were from a far country. The Israelites didn’t consult with God before making the treaty and it led to trouble from that moment on. You nailed it here: “Not every door is an opportunity to be taken.” Thank you, Beth, and thanks to Reeses for another truth that hits my heart!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you Tierney! My youngest named her. Funny story. From day one I lovingly called her “Reesers Piecers Peanut Butter Cuppers” to which she would come for either her food or for some love. We had her for about 6 months before she made her first unauthorized adventure. In which, I found myself at 6:30 am, when all the neighbors are headed to work, walking around our front yard in my pink bath robe yelling, “Reesers Piecers Peanut Butter Cuppers.” I think she sat in the trees laughing at me for a while before making her location known. After that experience, I reduced her pet name to “Reesers.” LOL

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  6. “Not every open door is an opportunity to be taken.”

    This reminds me how Paul said not to trust every spirit but to test them—to see if they are from God.

    Our adventures “outside” the Lord’s perfect plan can be more hazardous than we expect.

    Thanks, Beth. This gives me plenty of food for thought. Also, that is for sharing the link to my latest Paws and Reflect tale. Part five is coming soon!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. A great Paulic connection David! Thank you for sharing. Yes, the “outside” does hold more hazards than we realize. Metaphorically, Peter talks about the enemy as a roaring lion looking for one to devour. For Reeses, those hazards literally include coyotes, a busy road that has been the demise of many an animal, and a neighbor dog that’s hostile to cats.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  7. Patricia Ann Burkhart's avatar Patricia Ann Burkhart

    Thank you, Beth and Reeses, for a very appropriate lesson for each of us. I agree with pastorpete51 that not every open door leads to where the Shepherd wants us to go. Perfectly well said.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you Manette! Yes, Reeses enjoys her bird hunting only she wishes the birds would be more “cooperative”. During the winter months we put up a bird feeder near our front windows. It not only ensures our song birds are well fed, it also gives Reeses hours of bird TV to watch. Often we catch her chirping at them.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. Mary Lou, it was delightful to find a comment from you. I’m pretty confident that a pair of golden cat eyes is curiously peeking out watching you when you are at Mom and Dad’s and we’re up for a visit. There was an unauthorized adventure she took while we were up one time. Fortunately, Dad found the open cellar door and Adi helped him locate Reeses who was perched on the big stone in the front yard.

      Like

      Reply

    1. Thank you Jo! We’ve learned to laugh at Reeses outdoor adventures as they usually involve an element of comedy including getting locked out of the house and running around the front yard in a pink bath robe. That said, we live near enough to a busy road that is fatal for animals who try to cross that there is always prayer involved when trying to catch her.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  13. Oh my, having dogs willing to take a back seat to a cat is an acheivement indeed! I live this new substitute teacher and hope she comes back to share another lesson or two! Great post Beth…not every open door leads to where the shepherd wants us to go.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a reply to Patricia Ann Burkhart Cancel reply