Fifty feet up, from where a fork in the old oak tree expanded into two wide limbs, Fritz the cat wailed mournfully.
Fritz is a four-year-old orange and cream tabby that loves to go up trees. Coming down, however, is entirely another story. Hence the wailing. This has been one of Fritz's peccadillos from the moment he marched in as a kitten and pronounced himself our new house cat. After a visit to the vet—where he received his shots—Fritz promptly set about stealing our hearts. He quickly learned he was adept at climbing, especially in escaping Leon's attention—the patriarch feline that rules our outdoor clowder.
Leon isn't a house cat, or even a people cat, and doesn't like much of anything about us except our free food. But he does what he does exceptionally well: rule our ridge. Leon keeps his females in line, shoos the youngsters off when it is time for them to go, and, most of all, keeps the yard and ridge free of every critter, rodent, and snake that doesn't belong. One thing Leon doesn't do is climb, so Fritz can easily scamper up out of harm's way.
Fritz loves to climb just for the fun of it. He enjoys the view from on high and chasing squirrels and birds who venture too far into his domain. He is excellent at going up. Coming back down … not so much. He sits and cries pitifully to get back on the ground.
I have often done the same thing in my life. Chasing something bright and shiny, I have steered off God's chosen path for my life and gone figuratively straight up a tree and out on a limb seventy-five feet in the air. And what do I do then? Exactly like Fritz. I sit and wail pitifully to my Father for help.
Learning my lesson is hard. Walk in God's Word, and the path is straight and true. Get off course chasing bright baubles, and suddenly I’m seventy-five feet in the air, crying out for God to save me. Again.
Thank goodness, God is faithful to both humans and cats. He has never failed to pluck me from my predicaments—or guide Fritz back down from the tree.
Have you ever been out on a limb? God is faithful to rescue you.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
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Kevin Spencer likes to play with words, help others play with them, and is privileged to be a staff writer for Christian Devotions. He lives with his beautiful blessing of a wife, Charlotte, and his amazing collegiate grandson, Caleb.