Something I was thinking

(Two week later…)

So, we went to the Haven of the Ozarks to adopt a new kitten. I’m not sure if it’s to fill the need for a cat, or soften the blow of loosing Vito, but either way we now have a brown-ish, tan-ish, grey-ish, black-ish, kitten with racing stripes on her face and tail, and paws that looked like she’s walked through asphalt oil. We’ve fed her, watered her, and cleaned her litter box for four days, and she still doesn’t trust us enough to let us touch her or even get within a yard from her. She hasn’t left the upstairs room where her litter box resides.

I’ve sat on the edge of the stairs, talked to her, sang to her (oh, maybe that’s the problem), and even played with kitten toys to entice her. She just tilts her head and looks at me as if I’m the ugliest cat she’s ever seen. I know she’s afraid I’ll hurt her, but what she doesn’t know is I’m great at petting cats…and deep down that’s what I really want, and she really needs. So, I sit and wait, trying not to feel rejected and hoping she’ll finally quit cowering from my reach, climb into my lap, and let me love on her. I can’t help but wonder if this is how God feels about my hesitancy to draw near to Him.

Yesterday was a rough day at the Bennett house. Our cat, Vito, was hit by a car and we had to have the vet put him to sleep. If you’ve known me very long you’d know that I’ve never been much of a cat person. I even asked my vet once, “If they make cat food that tastes like fish, why don’t they make dog food that tastes like cats?” However, something was different about Vito. He wormed his way into my heart. Part of it was that for once I wasn’t the only male living in our home. (Sometimes I feel like I loose man points just walking into my house.)

The question continues to arise not just in the Bennett home, but in the theological community, “Will our pets be in heaven?” With books recently published and arguments arising, the two opposing questions seem to be 1) Since pets don’t have souls, will they be in heaven? And 2) Will heaven really be heaven without the pets that have stuck closer to us than many friends? I would add an additional one 3) If pets are in heaven will they outnumber the humans, since in my lifetime I’ve lost numerous cats, dogs, goldfish, piranhas, hamsters, goldfish, lizards, rabbits, and one ferret.

While I could answer the question one way theologically and argue the other side practically, I settle on one basic concept: When it comes to heaven, any belief that is not specifically against Scripture is probably OK – I am certain when we get there, none of us will be disappointed.