SPRING TRAINING

I was looking out my back door one spring morning, sipping a cup of coffee, and I spotted a doe quietly grazing at the edge of the lawn. While this scene had been repeated for me many times before, this time was different because my cat, Raider, saw the doe too, and he creeped rapidly up to the deer to get a closer and more personal look at her.

What usually would make a young cat stay close to safety, caused an innocent curiosity in this one which allowed him to make direct contact without fear of what might happen. Within seconds, Raider was looking straight up and nose to nose with another animal that could stomp all over him.

This was amazing to me because the doe had nothing more in her mind than to be about her business, and my cat just wanted to see what it was in our yard.

I considered these two animal’s behavior for a moment, and how each of them were different in so many ways, yet neither one was bothered by each other. We, as humans, are also different in many ways, and each of us have a great sense of curiosity about those of us who are not like us, yet we do not satisfy that curiosity because we are afraid of what is different. In turn, we remain ignorant and uncomfortable in situations which could be, and should be easy and relaxed.

I am quite thankful that my Raider had never heard the phrase, “Curiosity killed the cat”, otherwise that particular spring morning would be long gone from my mind.