One day I heard the familiar call of the orange cat. The squirrel incident wasn’t the first time I’d met O.C., as I came to call him. I spied the handsome tiger cat walking in a field on my fourth walk and called him over to me. He rubbed along my ankles and I pet him a bit, but when I tried to read his tag, he dug his claws into my hand and sprung away wildly, leaving me bloody and confused. I walked on, O.C. meowing loudly behind me. No way, dude. Fool me once…
Well, I was fooled again. I learned from another early morning walker that O.C. hurt a park worker so badly he went to the ER! But here he was, meowing after me once more, and against my better judgment I stopped. Yes O.C., what do you want? Is this what I am here for, to dawdle with this cute little pest that hurts me and gives nothing good in return? And that’s when I noticed the image on his tag: a skull and crossbones. Apparently O.C. has a history.
Deciding not to be a part of his future, I turned to leave. Just then, a deer leapt from where it stood—right behind me—and disappeared into the brush. God has beautiful things planned for me. I mustn’t waste a moment chasing the wrong things, and miss His blessings and gifts.
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. Psalm 1:1-3
Meeting God at the Park 