
A couple of years ago, a calico cat that lived with a family down the street had four kittens. One of the kittens was black, and after a few months time, seemed to become somewhat alienated from the rest of the family. By the time this cat, a male, was full-grown, he had developed a hostile and aloof personality, and he had come to live by himself in a nearby alley. From time to time, this cat, whom we quite unoriginally called "Blackie," would come into our yard to drink water or eat some scraps that our cats had left behind. But when anyone in my family would come near this cat, he would hiss and bare his fangs and then run away.
When the weather turned cold, we fixed a little wooden house for this cat, in a spot in the back yard where he would be at a distance from our back door, and Blackie came to think of that place as his home. Little by little, he started to spend more time in our yard, and our own cats, who had been wary of him at first, gradually came to accept him.
But although my family members were feeding Blackie and giving him fresh water every day, he remained hostile to all of us. Then one day, after having been gone for a few weeks, Blackie appeared in the yard with terrible wounds on his face and on his ears. He had apparently been in an all-out fight with another tomcat, and had somehow recovered from that ordeal. We all went out of our way to speak gently to Blackie, and to do our best to make him feel at home, and the little cat seemed to understand, at last, that we were his friends.
As Blackie regained his strength, I talked to him every day and sat as close to him as I could, so that he would realize that I was his friend. For several months, he remained unimpressed, and he continued to just hiss and draw back from me. But as time went on, Blackie hissed less and less, and then finally one day, Blackie stopped hissing at me entirely. As a few more months went by, Blackie continued to warm toward me, and finally, he felt comfortable enough to let me pet him.
After Blackie had been with us for about a year, we somehow managed to trap him in a small cage and take him to the local veterinarian to have him neutered. A few weeks after this procedure, Blackie seemed to have finally let go of a lot of his fear and hostility, and he seemed to be at peace.
So for the past year and a half, Blackie has been my constant companion whenever I go out in the yard. He comes running to me whenever he sees me, and as I pet him and speak to him affectionately, he rubs up against my legs and lets me know that he enjoys my attention. Blackie is still hesitant to get close to my other family members, but he feels at home with us now, and he radiates a sense of contentment that is practically contagious, and quite beautiful to see.
I give thanks to God each day for the miracle that he worked in helping Blackie change from a difficult loner to a beloved member of our family. But as I reflect on this marvelous transformation, I cannot help but think of how Blackie always had a side that was gentle and loving, but that he had been afraid to express it.
Don't you believe that a lot of the people we meet who seem to be angry or moody or indifferent might be like Blackie, in that deep down, they have an affectionate side that is simply being blocked from showing itself? I now realize that Blackie wasn't so much mean or vicious as he was fearful, and his hostile demeanor and gestures were a defense through which he maintained a feeling of safety. Surely, there are many people who've been hurt by life's ups and downs who end in situations similar to Blackie's. Yet as Christians, we remain confident that somehow, the grace of God will flow into these broken lives, and love will have the last word.
My Sweet Jesus, today I want to offer my prayers for all those in this world who have fear in their hearts and who are reluctant to love or to express tenderness. Just as you led my little friend, Blackie, from a lonely existence to life in the bosom of a caring family, in your mercy and goodness, lead all souls who feel isolated or beleaguered to a sense of being loved and accepted. I would especially like, my Dear Lord, to ask for your blessings upon those people who have let their fear and hatred of gay people corrupt their souls. May all those people who wish ill against your gay and lesbian children come to feel your love in a profound way, that they may let go of their fears and hostilities, and realize that all of us, gay and straight, are brothers and sisters, with one loving and proud Father. Heal us, O Lord, and we shall be healed! Shower your love upon us, and teach us how to live with reverence and compassion in this beautiful world you have made for us. Give us the grace, we beg of you, to love as you love. Oh Jesus, I love you so much! Help me to love you more and more each day! Oh, and thank you so much for my little friend, Blackie, and for all the animals, wild or tame, who brighten so many lives the world over!