Last night was cooler than it had been for a few days, so I turned off the AC and opened the windows in our bedroom.
No sooner, did I turn off the light and was snug in my bed; I heard the plaintive cry of some animal. Thinking back to “Everything I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten,” I first thought it was mating raccoons; soon I realized it was a crying cat.
I jumped out of bed and ran outside; my beautiful calico was sitting on the deck, looking towards the ruckus. I was as happy to see her, as she was to come inside. I asked my husband if we should go out and try to help. His response was “you’re going to tramps through the woods at 1 a.m. looking for a wounded cat?” So, our cat curled up next to us as we listen to that poor animal for hours.
I believe that “good” people (if not all people) have it in their nature to want to help. I also believe far too many “good” people fall well short of the execution of that desire.
Some years ago, my youngest child was called to Africa to work in an orphanage; reluctantly, I let her go. Some years later; my husband felt the call to go to Haiti to work among the earthquake victims, and our oldest has answered the call to work with sick and injured animals (I could have used her help last night.) I have recently found myself in Youth Ministry at our church; this is far from what I feel called to do.
Leaving those young people without a leader would be akin to leaving them in the woods and hoping they make it out alive.
Being in youth leader is the second to last thing I want to be; the last thing I want to be is part of a church without one.
I believe that, with all good intentions, when we see suffering, poverty, injustice, intolerance and indifference, or just someone who needs help; we wish someone would do something to help. I am someone.
I wonder if my journey from Rubenimity has taken a side road, a detour, a diversion, or perhaps not. Maybe I am on a new path; maybe I am on the correct path… a path through the woods.
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