Kiwi

Rarely would such a friend be found in a feline, but with her funny antics and my melancholy heart, we were a great match. I'm not sure what I loved most, her playful or her serious side. Both sides of her personality strangely completed my own.

It seems like yesterday, the moment my arms held her malnourished frame. She was just a kitten. Large green eyes overpowered her tiny face. Ears like satellites balanced on black fur.

"Please Mom, can we keep her?" I pleaded. "I will take good care of her; she is so cute, please?"

I don't remember much about what happened next, but I must have sounded pretty convincing. Our friendship began with a good bath and a cozy spot on my twin size bed. There were many nights of cuddles and playing. Her purring always brought comfort as I contemplated life and its meaning.

There were never words spoken, after all she was a cat, but deep and meaningful communication transpired as she looked me in the eye. It was like she was looking into my soul, as I peeked into hers. We enjoyed each other's company. Things were simple - words could not clutter things up for us. She was a constant unchanging presence in my life through so many unexpected twists and turns.

Through the years she had become a great companion. So much more like a dog than a cat, Kiwi would fetch things and follow me around the house. Indoors struck her fancy, minus a bird or two that would tease her through the window. She was wise and graceful, seeming to enjoy the simplicity of a good nap. Never wasting a moment, Kiwi loved to take it all in.

To my surprise, Kiwi would become the icon of my adolescence. Making her first appearance my freshman year of high school, she hung around through graduation. Years later she became the house pet after saying "I do" and would eventually take a back seat to the birth of our three children. To my amazement, that cat lived twenty years!

On her dying day I tried my best to be the kind of friend she had always been to me. Carefully placing her in her favorite spot on the couch, I gently stroked her head and starred into those deep green eyes. The medicine was administered, and in a moment she was gone. Through countless tears I felt as if my best friend had just died. In many ways, she had.

My beautiful friend and I communicated deeply, from the heart. Her appearance all of those years ago brought laughter, tears and true significance to a young girl who desperately needed to be seen.

Slow Down

In case you're wondering who this character is . . . this is a picture of me - minus the bathrobe and bedroom slippers. As I recover from surgery, you won't find this cat making any fast moves. As a matter of fact, turning around too quickly sends my equilibrium south and my knees over a fault line. Pathetic, I know - but this is my reality for the moment.

Going back to the story of the tortoise and the hare, if you think about it, a tortoise would have a much better view of the scenery than the hare. Now I know that the hare and his spectacular speed gives him a much better chance of winning the race -- but when it comes to the Kingdom race, things are judged differently. God is not so interested in who gets there first, the trick is to finish well.

Finishing well for me means striving to walk in integrity. For example, finishing projects I said I would complete. This includes anything from conquering a good read to nurturing a dear friendship. So much of life waits for my attention - but I have to slow down in order to take notice. Ever been there? You're couch bound for a short time due to illness or injury, and while putting your feet up, you begin to notice so much more than your need for a pedicure?

Seasons where I'm forced to slow down can be so rich and sweet. Lessons that I normally would miss out on, are brought brightly into view. Aside from fatigue that makes me feel like a 98 year old woman, I am really enjoying this break. Slowing down is giving me the opportunity to really scope out the details of God's amazing presence. He's here . . . he's there . . . He's everywhere -- and He longs for us to notice.

Take heed and learn from our slothful friend the tortoise. Slow Down. Smell those roses. Learn from his careful technique - he runs not haphazardly, but with a purpose.

God is never in a hurry - should we be?