Well…I guess I owe my cat an apology.
We have had an unwanted guest here in the manse off and on for a while now, and you may recall how I have lamented that my six-pound cat, Gingersnap, was a DECORATIVE cat and not a FUNCTIONAL cat. How could she stand by and permit a mouse to move into our home? How could she sleep knowing that her own food was being pilfered? Did she have no feline pride???
Tonight, while I was putting together worship materials for Sunday, I heard a suspicious ruckus coming from the kitchen. Before I could even get up, however, Gingersnap pranced towards me with something in her mouth. Naturally, I initially assumed that it was a toy.
It was not a toy.
It was a mouse.
Not a catnip mouse. A MOUSE mouse.
I was able to scoop up the mouse in a washcloth and escort it outside, where I hope that it recovers from its night of terror and goes on to live a full and happy life (*OUTSIDE*).
Apparently, my tiny snuggly lap cat had it in her all along to be a working cat. Who knew?
I think that many of us have surprised ourselves over the past two months. Some of my peers have turned to me for advice on how to lead worship virtually or set up lighting for filming, something I would never have anticipated even three months ago. I’ve kept a sourdough starter alive for two months. Webinars, podcasts, and online research have taught me more than I ever thought I would need to know about copyright law in regards to online worship, how to engage with communities over distance, how to create outlets for virtual fellowship, how to host movie nights and game nights and virtual cat introductions, how to create rituals that might help people feel connected from far apart. For my own mental health, I’m trying to limit my screen time as much as I can, so I’ve been reading physical copies of novels–the library stored within the memory of my e-reader is much larger than the library in my living room, but I still have plenty to last me for a while. I’ve also dyed my hair for the first time in five years, re-organized my craft room closet, and played with some new cocktail recipes.
What new skills have you learned during these strange times? How have you surprised yourself? I would love to hear your stories…although I sincerely hope, for your own sakes, that they do not involve catching a mouse and carrying it around in your mouth. Gingersnap does not want to have to share the spotlight of being the best rookie mouser.