A Kitty On Board

Monday, February 27, 2023

Before the plane even took off, a little kitty was making its presence known in the midst of a very full, and very early flight. It was a flight I had not expected, but was now happening. Fifteen days with my papa san in the midst of winter. Tim couldn’t come due to his responsibilities as Interim pastor at his folks’ church, thus I was flying alone. It was weird not traveling with him and I missed him already. But now this little voice had my full attention. Close by and not very happy.

As we started down the runway, it gave a yelp and cried a little louder. Surprisingly it didn’t cry the whole flight, though it could be heard from time to time. Most people probably didn’t even hear the little cries for it was much softer than the cries of the babies around us. But I heard it. And I remembered another time flying with a kitty on board. But this time it was my kitty.

Tim and I had flown with both our cats as we were bringing them to the mainland, saying goodbye to our Hawaiian home seven years earlier. They were both under the seats in front of us. Macska, our travel trooper, was quiet and content to be with us and not be left behind. Macska and I had travelled much while I had lived in Canada, and she rarely gave a complaint. When Tim and I got married, we had to leave her in Washington a few months due to quarantine regulations in Hawaii. She was not happy. She moped around, feeling abandoned though my parents were glad to have her. She wanted her mama. Me. Since then, she is always glad when she is not left behind, unless she is in her own home.

Tigg, on the other hand, was something else when it came to traveling. He was our Hawaiian baby, born in our closet. His mother, Sammy, a feral cat, chose to have her babies not only in our home but specifically in our closet. We kept Tigg. It wasn’t till we left Hawaii that we discovered his aversion to flying. No exaggeration!

How shall I describe it? We were the parents with the crying, obnoxious baby! Tigg cried the whole flight to the mainland. His cry was anything but soft like the little kitten I was now listening to. No. Definitely NOT! Not only was he a loud crier during the whole flight, but by take off and landing he screamed bloody terror. Have you ever heard a cat actually cry bloody terror? It’s a cry I will never forget! Having cats since childhood, I’ve experienced many different types of cries, hisses, and growls, but never anything like this chilling wail he made. I’m surprised he didn’t die of fright on the spot. Worse yet, I couldn’t even take him out of his carrier to comfort him. Helplessness engulfed me as I could do nothing to ease his pain. They say cats have nine lives, well I believe he lost two or three of them that day! It is a flight forever deeply implanted in my memory!

Have you ever felt totally helpless in a situation?  Hopelessness. To have no hope is to despair, to have a deep sorrow, an inner sadness of a situation, or worse, to despair of life itself. Anne of Green Gables once said she was “in the depth of despair (Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery, published in 1908). There are many around us who are living with hopelessness.  

Mark 5 tells the story of a woman who was in a hopeless situation. Jesus was on His way to heal a ruler’s daughter and this woman happened to be in the crowd following Him. Mark explains in verses 25-29 what happened next, “Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.” The story goes on to say that Jesus noticed power had left Him and wanted to know who touched Him. Mark goes on to say, verses 33-34, “But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.” This woman had tried everything, spent all her money and was still hopelessly sick. Somehow, she heard about Jesus and hope was perhaps restored, if only she could get close to Him. In her desperation, she grabbed her chance and was healed. Here was a woman in a truly hopeless situation but found hope in Jesus.

By the way, while Jesus was talking to the woman, the ruler’s daughter died. Mark 5:35 says, “While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” They felt there was no longer hope, so Jesus was no longer needed. Jesus’ response in verse 36, “Do not be afraid; only believe.”

The Bible is full of stories of people who were in hopeless situations. Yet in the midst of these hopeless situations, Jesus brought hope. Jesus is the believer’s hope. If you are in a hopeless situation, trust the words of Jesus, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” You are not alone.

Blessings, Mari