Southern Indiana Living Magazine - July/August 2024

M
y cat, Fluff, is not exactly
a skilled hunter. In the 12
years we’ve had him, I
think I’ve only seen him
catch one mole and one bird. That’s it.
Not exactly an apex predator.
When a groundhog or a raccoon
turns up, he completely ignores them. If
a chipmunk runs through our yard, he
may stalk it for a minute, but he’s not
ambitious enough to actually chase it
down. That would require effort, and
most of his effort goes into finding a
sunny spot to take a nap.
That’s why I was so surprised last
week when I saw him on the prowl. I
was working out in our living room
early one morning, and I’d just let him
out. A few minutes later, I glanced out
the patio door and saw him crouched
down, laser-focused on something
across the yard.
I didn’t think much of it at first. I
figured it was a squirrel or something.
Then I noticed he was slinking
toward whatever had caught his attention.
Since he was actually moving,
I thought I’d better check it out before
things turned ugly. I had no idea how
right I was.
Several years ago, I built a wooden
clubhouse in the back corner of our
yard for my kids. The playhouse is on
the top level, but the first floor is open
with three hammock chairs suspended
from the ceiling. That’s exactly where
Fluff was headed.
When I looked out at the clubhouse,
I expected to see a rodent or a
bird, but instead I saw a coyote. It was
just sniffing around the hammocks,
looking for its next meal, which was
about to be my cat.
By the time I got outside, Fluff was
about halfway across the yard, going in
for the kill. I knew I only had seconds
before the fur started flying.
I ran out onto the patio and yelled,
“Fluff, get back here,” which, of course,
was dumb because that cat has never
once come when I called him. Why did I
think he would start now?
Thankfully, though, it was enough
to startle the coyote, and he bolted over
the neighbors’ fence.
Fluff, a cat who doesn’t even have
his front claws, would never know
just how close he came to meeting his
maker. In fact, from his point of view,
he probably thinks he scared the coyote
away. In his little cat brain, that mangy
mutt had invaded his yard, and, like a
A Coyote Close Call
marshal in the old West, he went out
and took care of business.
The reality, though, is that the
coyote couldn’t have cared less about
the foolhardy feline stalking him in the
grass. It was the guy behind the cat who
made the difference.
But try telling Fluff that. Despite
“Fluff the cat
the fact that he was clearly outmatched,
I will never get credit for saving the
day. Cats aren’t exactly known for their
gratitude, so it’s to be expected. Unfortunately,
sometimes I see the same attitude
operating in myself.
How many times have I found
myself in a jam, been bailed out by God,
and failed to give Him credit? I’m sure
there are far too many times when I’ve
chalked up something going well to my
own skill, wisdom, effort or just dumb
luck rather than acknowledging the
good God who is operating behind the
scenes and helping me do things I could
never do on my own.
James 1:17 says, “Every good and
perfect gift is from above” (NIV). I say
I believe that, but do I really live like
it? Sometimes, I don’t even stop to say,
“Thank You, God!” Other times, even
when I do, I don’t really take the time to
reflect on what a big deal it was that the
God who created the universe loved me
enough to intervene on my behalf.
That truth shouldn’t just change
my circumstances, it should change my
heart.
Yes, in this sin-broken world, bad
things happen that don’t make a whole
lot of sense, but what about the good
Everyday Adventures
things that happen that don’t make a
whole lot of sense either?
Like my cat, we don’t always appreciate
how much God has helped us,
because we have no idea how close we
may have come to disaster. His very intervention
sometimes prevents us from
seeing how He saved the day.
If a chipmunk runs
through our yard,
he may stalk it
for a minute, but
he’s not ambitious
enough to actually
chase it down.
That would require
effort, and most of
his effort goes into
finding a sunny
spot to take a nap.
I don’t think we’ll ever know this
side of heaven how many times God
has protected us, provided for us and
answered the prayers of those who have
been praying for us from a distance.
Why does this matter? Because not only
does God deserve praise and gratitude,
but this awareness of God’s activity in
our lives helps us trust Him for the future.
When I recognize the presence of
the One who has helped me through so
many struggles in the past, I really do
begin to believe that there is nothing I
will ever face alone. •
Jason Byerly is a writer, pastor, husband and
dad who loves the quirky surprises God
sends his way every day. You can read more
from Jason in his books Tales from the Leaf Pile
and Holiday Road. You can catch up with Jason
on his blog at www.jasonbyerly.com.
Southern Indiana Living • July/Aug 2024 • 29