Cats on the counter

“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2 NIV

If you have heard me describe my son, you have heard me use words like, ornery and mischievous. I really should use “smart ass” because that is more accurate. Case in point – my wife had a major back surgery a couple of weeks ago. She is doing so much better and the spine pain she had is gone. Gone. It’s been five years. We are so thankful. However, my genius son saw it as an opportunity.

She was pretty immobile for the first few days. Korbin and I had the job of making sure she had what she needed within an arm’s reach. Apparently, he decided he should also test her patience. He would walk into the room carrying one of his cats. He has two, both of which started out as family pets. He converted them. They will occasionally acknowledge other people, but they will let him do anything with them. He wraps his hands around their neck to feel them purr. It looks terrible but they never fight it. He sometimes rubs his face on them, which is a sensory miracle. He touches their fur with both sides of his hands.

Back to the point. He would walk into the room with one of them and place it on the kitchen island. They are not supposed to be there. They are not allowed on any counters in our house. He obviously knows this. But picture 6’3” of pure lanky teenager looking like a scientist. Drop the cat. Watch the mom. Check the cat. Check the mom. Ignore the mom. Walk away smiling. We wonder sometimes if we should parent the 18-year-old or the autism. They are identical at times, but at other times totally separate.

I have not gone on the road to work for the last few weeks. I am thankful for the blessing of a job that fits life. I needed to be home. Monday morning, I left the house enthusiastic. I have been praying for a pain free wife and she is. I had myself organized and on the job. Let’s write some business. I got my rear end kicked for two days. If you blow through two days of leads spread over 1,000 miles you have a lot of time to think. I didn’t think I needed it, but apparently, I did.

I found myself getting frustrated with God over the same job I left home thanking Him for - yesterday. Then I went to knock on a door. I have known this customer for probably 12 years. I insured her and her husband. He passed away many years ago. At one point in this relationship, he told me to make sure I checked in on her if he wasn’t here. I remember throwing out a casual “sure”.

Long story short I figure I drop in on her once or twice a year. Some years I go by more than that if I happen to be close. I have seen her struggle. If you take a good human out of the picture gaps appear. She had gaps. I have walked away from her house worried many times. I have seen depression, loneliness, sadness, anger, tears and hopelessness. Ironically, I have shared those same things with her in my own journey. We have prayed and cried together. Not all customers are like this, but some are.

Today was different. I saw bright eyes. I saw lights on in the house. I saw grandkids playing. I saw a completely different picture. At one point she said “I look at you as a friend. Does it seem okay now?” Man does it ever.

Many times on the road you can kind of tell that you are in your last house for the day. This was it. The fact that it happened at 9:00 am sort of influenced me. I stayed on the job. But on the way home tonight from the strangest, most beautiful day I found myself felling less impatient with a God who occasionally drops something on the counter in my life. Watch the Rick. Check the issue. Check the Rick. I want to make Him walk away smiling.

How often do I let what God sees as a moment get confused as a problem for me?

How often do I think everything revolves around me when in fact, nearly none of it does?

Challenge: Looking at the world with spiritual eyes. Listening to the world with spiritual ears. Being willing.

Rick Claiborn