Cats’ Philosophy
As you might have noticed, yesterday’s blog had nothing to do with the day’s previous Sunday message – the format I usually follow in these posts (see ‘Welcome to the Broken Runner’).
Apologies! It was ‘Mothers Day’ so I wrote it in advance! Tks, tsk… I know, but I’m afraid I’m going to do the same today also!
It’s just that I’ve been intrigued this weekend over discussion in the media regarding a newly published book by philosopher John Gray. The book’s title alone, Feline Philosophy: Cats and the Meaning of Life, is enough to raise my eyebrow.
Socrates is said to have said “The unexamined life is not worth living,” Hence, philosophy. But, says Gray, cats have no interest in self-examination, hence no need for philosophy, “They’re content with the life nature gives them,” concludes Gray. Humans, on the other hand – or paw – are not content. They are frightfully aware of their own mortality and by philosophy try to analyze their angst… to respond, through reason and speculation, to the BIG questions of existence.
In his autobiography,* the late Billy Graham defines these questions:
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Who am I?
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Where did I come from?
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Where am I going?
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Is there any meaning to my life?
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Graham comments, “These basic questions of life are ultimately religious in nature… Only God can give us an ultimate answer to those questions.”
Perhaps the reason cats are at peace within themselves is that cats did not rebel against their Creator. Cats did not fall… they did not sin. Neither did dogs… or fish…. Or ___________. Only humans alienated themselves in this way, though by that fall we disrupted all of creation (see Rom. 8:22).
Jesus pointed to the sky to illustrate the peaceful faith found in His Creation. He said, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” (Matt. 6:26). Read Job chapters 39-41 where God Himself defends His care of all nature. “The eyes of all look to You,” declares the psalmist, “And You give them their food in due time.” (Ps. 145:15 — see also Ps. 104:14; 147:9).
Cats are just one example of life lived one day at a time, confident and at peace with one’s Maker – it is a life of abundance… a life God longs for us to take again from His Hand… a life made possible by the sacrifice of His Son.
Hmm… perhaps this post has a connection with last Sunday’s message after all!
More tomorrow…
* Billy Graham, Just As I Am: The Autobiography of Billy Graham, HarperCollins Pub. Ltd., 1997, p. 423.
To hear Pastor Andrew’s Sunday message, go to the Facebook page of Lincoln Baptist Church, or link to the livestream from the church website.
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