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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Cat and Dog (09/04/14)
Opposites are not always enemies

We all know of films and cartoons that have portrayed cats and dogs as natural enemies, even well known cartoons such as Tom and Jerry have the dog siding with the mouse to teach the cat a nasty lesson. However, is it possible to see and think of a Cat and Dog as more than polar opposites? Or is it just too fundamentally ingrained in our psyche to think that a change could happen?

Nature has a funny way of turning our ideas on their heads, for you can see a mother cat or dog looking after another animal which is not their own. Being a surrogate parent in this situation could look strange – but then why not? In today’s society of rules and norms so many things are missed out on. If the mother dog did not take in and look after the cat, it would have died. What the cat got was a protector and companion; the cat may never have learnt how to bark or the dog to meow but they knew how to communicate, help and work towards a common goal.

So is it possible for others to have these same traits? How many times have we heard people say, “they are such an odd couple.” They may be deeply in love with each other but outsiders see it as weird and bizarre. This could be a couple with additional needs or a woman married to a much younger man, but why is it so frowned upon? I must admit I have done the same myself as I mentioned above. We in society are not very good about understanding people who are different or even peculiar.

In our church society we also see and meet these same people. How often have we seen young men walk into our churches with massive holes in their ears and covered in piercings?

Unfortunately, I must concur, not very often; is church really such a frightening place? Are we like the Dog who went up and helped the Cat or are we like the priest or Levite in the parable of the Good Samaritan? If you asked me when I last spent time with a person with holes in his ears and piercings, the answer was a couple of months ago in the sauna – until he realised what a bad combination metal studs and heat are.

But no, I am not like the Dog in my story, although I try and help people and spend time with them I do not find it easy or natural to do so. This can be the hardest part; to take what is not natural and normally can be self serving and to go out and give and do the extra mile.

The challenge I put out to each one of us is can we try and be more like the Dog and look past our natural dislikes or preconceived feelings and become the surrogate big brother or sister that others need.
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This article has been read 812 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
C D Swanson 
09/12/14
Resounding message throughout this powerful piece.

Well done.

God bless~
Larry Whittington
09/12/14
This was an entertaining teaching lesson as pointed out in the last few paragraphs.

It seemed to wander a little but you did a good job pointing out how we should act differently to those "we think" are different.

Nice job writing.
Olawale Ogunsola
09/12/14
Thanks for sharing this. May the Lord help us to understand and be each other's keeper.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
09/14/14
This is a lovely piece. I really enjoyed your subtle humor. You reminded me of an old dog we had who actually would produce milk when the cat had kittens. Momma Cat even allowed the dog in the box to babysit when she needed a break. I loved watching that peculiar relationship and wished humans could be more trusting. You did a nice job on nailing the topic.