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The Absurdity of Herding Cats and People


They were everywhere.  Whole families needing a place to stay clutching onto their suitcases and belongings.  Pushing and shoving each other to gain a spot in line and get out of the rain.  And yet when I showed them to their room and they began running back out "to grab" something.  The panic in my throat was suffocating.

I was frantically running and saying...Stay put.  Herding them back to their room while bringing more in.  Then there were the animals.  The horses went where they were supposed to but the cats kept running in circles.  

And the old man?  WAS JUST STANDING THERE.  Why couldn't they just come in and stay?  Why did they have to go back in the rain?  Why couldn't "I" get them in?  Why was the old man just standing there?

Then I woke up.  Shaken and grabbing my journal.  Knowing that this was something God wanted me to learn from.  Asking Him to direct my thoughts I scribbled.

  Herding, cajoling, worrying, fretting, setting up and coordinating people.... as productive as herding cats.

Me. "So what am I supposed to do?" I asked God.  

Hmmm You sound like the rich younger ruler I once knew.."What can I DO to be saved?  Sound familiar?"

So the boat is God's plan.  The people are His people.  The world is His.  He got all of the animals on the Ark the first time-even the cats and the sheep.  The boys and my husband, my friends and church are all His.

Me.  "So God you told Noah what to do.  You know gave him a job.  Build the ark Noah this way and that.  So do I have directions?  He didn't just stand around waiting."

Remember how many years Noah spent building that ark and waiting and waiting?

Me.  "He had directions."

So do you.  Make sure your own household is ready.  Isn't that enough work?  Don't you have enough to do there? Just listen.  I'll tell you your next step.

Me.  "That's it?  Wait.  Listen?  Be still and work?  Do you know how hard that is for me?" 

Still biting and fighting the bit?  Want to run in circles some more?  Go around the mountain another time?

Me.  "Crap."  Not a very super spiritual term but it is an accurate word!

No I'm not schizophrenic-I'm praying.



"Be still, (Cease striving, relax, let alone, let drop, let go & quiet) and know (distinguish, discriminate, be acquainted with, consider) that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."  
Psalms 46:2



 




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