I posted this photo yesterday on my social network accounts and like most pictures of cats, it got a lot of likes. (Seems most people can’t resist computers or cats). I christened our resident stray, “Da Mayor of Fort Greene Place“, as he is.
When I headed out the door, there Da Mayor was–stretched out on top of our garbage cans, enjoying the March sunshine and finding respite from the foot traffic on the sidewalk and the cars on the street.
There’s a lot that the Da Mayor has to be on the lookout for. Two other strays commander the other end of the block and there’s a couple more on the block behind us. Food is something to fight for on a cold winter night. A warm dryer vent is worth an injured paw.
Da Mayor lives a hardscrabble life. And he’s not afraid to show it. When the high school across the street lets out, Da Mayor struts through the stream of students and meows for attention–loudly. He gets petted. And hugged. He gets surrounded by giddy adolescent girls who sometimes run to the corner bodega to fetch him some Fancy Feast. Da Mayor knows how to govern despite his limited budget.
And yesterday, he knew how to savor the luxury given him by the warm rays of sunshine pouring down from the March sun. He knew how to seek the safety of the high garbage can. He knew how to lay upon it and enjoy the small gifts of grace offered him–well, offered us all.
And yesterday, in seeing that scruffy little cat, who, honestly, I often ignore, I was able to see the precious providence God offers us and felt true gratitude.
Da Mayor delighted in sunlight and I delighted in the Lord. What a wonderful way to start the day!
Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
