I’m Sorry, Did You Want to Be Alone?

Sticking Close to God

It’s perhaps a sign of a troubled kittenhood, some innate insecurity, that makes Shadow stick to me like…well, like a shadow. Dogs are normally credited with staying on their masters’ heels, but I’ve known many cats that were just as insistent on keeping their humans within paw’s reach. Shadow takes the habit to the point of the neurotic.

If I’m in the kitchen, she’s there, sniffing around her food bowls or watching me at the stove. If I’m on the porch, she’s feeling the breeze and checking out the tomatoes. When I clean the house, she finds a perch to observe and supervise. By far her most annoying habit is her tendency to sprawl across the keyboard while I’m at the computer. Perhaps the most difficult adjustment is her habit of slipping into the bathroom right before the door closes and hanging out while I take care of business. She maintains a small bubble of personal space, but not much.

It’s flattering, actually. What more sincere sign of affection than showing you want to be with someone all…the…time?

While humans often reach the breaking point and crave alone time (especially true for the introverts among us), what God craves is time with us. Sadly, we’re the ones who wander off after butterflies and dust bunnies, deserting our roles as faithful companions and followers.

Despite the inconvenience of tripping over furry bodies, stepping on a wayward tail, or going to the bathroom with an audience, I miss my shadow when she’s not there. In my heart of hearts, I believe God feels the same way about His wayward children. The Bible is full of His attempts to get our attention and re-establish the relationship we broke, all culminating in his ultimate sacrifice on the cross.

It probably borders on sacrilegious to think of following God to the bathroom, but isn’t that the point? Our attitude should be that of Ruth to Naomi, or of a neurotic gray cat to her human.

“Wherever you go, I will go” (Ruth 1:16).

Lead the way, God.