Monthly Archives: June 2015

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Kitty Logic (or lack thereof)

Kitty logic. Inconceivable.
Yesterday I had somewhere important to be at 8:30 AM.Unfortunately the volume on my alarms was down and I didn’t wake up. I woke up naturally at 8:20 and scrambled KittyBoy was there smiling smugly saying “Look Mama. I let you sleep in!” and then he sort of snickered at my predicament.

This morning I could sleep in a bit, and I had a rough time falling asleep last night, so it would be a precious commodity today .

But ThugCatGeorge had other ideas. He declared Romper Room open at 4:30 am. He lunges in from the other room and pounces heavily on the bed then bounces across me to the window ledge whilst letting out a gutteral.”wake up!”. When I ignore him, he becomes incensed and makes an exasperated, exaggerated breathing sound telling me “I mean it.” as he runs and pounces again, and yells “Gimme a treat…NOW.” He wears me down by repeating this process three or four more times.

Finally I acquiesce. I get up and head towards bathroom. He snorts, “It’s about damn time,” and forges the way. When I stop to use the bathroom he stomps his feet, “Really?” I really “yes really. Just hold your horses.”

When I come into the dining room, he swats at the empty plate where he gets his KittyCrack>aka “morning treat” saying “ITS….ABOUT…..FREAKING…..TIME” pausing to emphasize each word

Miraculously, a few minutes later what ever demon has possessed my boy is gone. SweetGeorge comes back to me and sweetly says “Morning Mamma, I think I’ll let you pet me! Wanna snuggle?” No more Alien Thugcat. Kittyboy is home. (Note…my spellcheck still turns parish to pariah, but know knows Kittyboy and KittyBoy)

Just as we can tiptoe or step slowly, run, or stamp our feet it never ceases to amaze me how much a 14 pound critter can put in his steps. He can come in a room so quietly that you don’t even know how he got there, or he can lunge so forcefully there is no way of missing it. Similarly a mew can appear to be a simple greeting, or a piteous yowl of woe, or an angry expletive. Cats can be as stubborn or aloof as anything, or as sensitive and tender as can be.

People talk about dogs and how happy they are to see their owners when they arrive. But one of the best parts of returning home for me is our nightly routine. He leads me to the bedroom, knowing I will change into pj’s or sweats and pet him as we talk about our days. That is more important to him then his dinner. If I feed him first he gets upset until he has had his daily scratching and petting.

Smiling and feeling a bit silly but ever grateful for the company of my feline friend. Amen.

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Big E’s and Little E’s

An outdoor table
Warm sun, good coffee, great friend
Makes a perfect day

Moments of pure grace
Not to be taken lightly
Breathing earth’s goodness

These humble gestures
Are simple, sacred, holy
Now my heart is full

Many years ago a good friend taught me about the difference between big “E’s” and little “e’s”. Big E as in Eucharist. The sharing in the Body and Blood of Christ, of Sacrament and Sacrifice. When a group shares this together they are bound closer to Christ as ” koinonia”, a fellowship, a community of believers. In my faith tradition there is an opportunity to receive not only weekly Eucharist but daily.

Sometimes, because we are distracted by life, or become too lax in our routines, we can miss the significance of these moments, or not be as present to them as we should. Sometimes the availability and familiarity with the Sacrament can breed complacency, or just taking its Presence for granted.

This friend went on to explain to me that “little e’s” were those beautiful moments of grace and gift we can sometimes experience with family and friends. Just as Jesus took something as simple as a bit of bread and a cup of wine, and made it holy telling people “do this in remembrance of me,” so something as simple as sharing a cup of coffee, a spot of tea, a beer, a simple meal, etc can become a sacred moment, a sort of “eucharist with a little e….”when we pour out our lives with one another, are vulnerable…..these moments may be sacred.

They can happen through these gifted times of conversation, or as musicians come together, or as one becomes enthralled with a piece of art or nature. Athletes and others experience these in their own way. Young parents and a new baby know a sense of communion, of oneness that others cannot fathom. These moments are not limited by Creed.

These are not everyday occurrences. OR perhaps they are and we just miss the opportunity to see them most of the time. Personally, I think they are moments that are rich enough and rare enough that they can touch us….when we reconnect after a long time with someone, or when we don’t realize how much we needed that until after it is over. They can break through a void, snap us back into good humour, or give us the courage to face whatever happens next. These are the moments of the little e. They are sacred. They are gift. And they can bring me to my knees in glad thanksgiving. Eucharist and eucharist . I need them both in my life.

Jill Maria Murdy's photo.