Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into.–Matthew 24:43
Being robbed is a horrible violation of trust. Intrusion of privacy. Having experienced it, I know that, of course, having something taken is upsetting but what’s more devastating is knowing that another human being has taken advantage of you.
It’s a double edged sword–you’re angry that someone has swindled you and you’re angry that you’ve allowed someone or something to get the better of you. It’s an ego-induced self-chastisement. You second guess yourself over and over again–I should have been more careful. I should have noticed the person coming down the block. I should have woken up.
I’ve seen ominous signs outside houses–Attack Cat or Cat On Watch–as a deterrent to ward off would be robbers or thieves. Almost anyone who has had a cat knows–it’s not likely to attack.
I know my two lovely girls, Susie and Delia, wouldn’t attack anyone coming in our house–friend or foe. They run from danger, they don’t pursue it.
They pursue friendly guests. Calm spaces. Morning prayer. Sunny spots on the rug. Music. Warm things–quilts, computers, sleeping human forms.
They’re luckier than I am. They’re so unattached to practically anything except maybe Michael and me that a thief could come and take all of their toys in the middle of the night and it would be meaningless. They’d find the string the thief left behind to tie the bundles and begin to play with it.
So the sign in our window might read, Wisdom Cats–run from danger, pursue goodness and be unattached.
Always ready. No matter what the hour.
Such wise little cats.
