EVERYDAY ADVENTURES

A Coyote Close Call

My cat, Fluff, is not exactly a skilled hunter. In the 12 years we’ve had him, I think I’ve only seen him catch one mole and one bird. That’s it. Not exactly an apex predator. 

When a groundhog or a raccoon turns up, he completely ignores them. If a chipmunk runs through our yard, he may stalk it for a minute, but he’s not ambitious enough to actually chase it down. That would require effort, and most of his effort goes into finding a sunny spot to take a nap.

When a groundhog or a raccoon turns up, he completely ignores them. If a chipmunk runs through our yard, he may stalk it for a minute, but he’s not ambitious enough to actually chase it down. That would require effort, and most of his effort goes into finding a sunny spot to take a nap.

That’s why I was so surprised last week when I saw him on the prowl. I was working out in our living room early one morning, and I’d just let him out. A few minutes later, I glanced out the patio door and saw him crouched down, laser-focused on something across the yard. 

I didn’t think much of it at first. I figured it was a squirrel or something. 

Then I noticed he was slinking toward whatever had caught his attention. Since he was actually moving, I thought I’d better check it out before things turned ugly. I had no idea how right I was.

Then I noticed he was slinking toward whatever had caught his attention. Since he was actually moving, I thought I’d better check it out before things turned ugly. I had no idea how right I was.

Several years ago, I built a wooden clubhouse in the back corner of our yard for my kids. The playhouse is on the top level, but the first floor is open with three hammock chairs suspended from the ceiling. That’s exactly where Fluff was headed. 

When I looked out at the clubhouse, I expected to see a rodent or a bird, but instead I saw a coyote. It was just sniffing around the hammocks, looking for its next meal, which was about to be my cat.

By the time I got outside, Fluff was about halfway across the yard, going in for the kill. I knew I only had seconds before the fur started flying.

I ran out onto the patio and yelled, “Fluff, get back here,” which, of course, was dumb because that cat has never once come when I called him. Why did I think he would start now?

Thankfully, though, it was enough to startle the coyote, and he bolted over the neighbors’ fence. 

Fluff, a cat who doesn’t even have his front claws, would never know just how close he came to meeting his maker. In fact, from his point of view, he probably thinks he scared the coyote away. In his little cat brain, that mangy mutt had invaded his yard, and, like a marshal in the old West, he went out and took care of business.

Fluff, a cat who doesn’t even have his front claws, would never know just how close he came to meeting his maker. In fact, from his point of view, he probably thinks he scared the coyote away. In his little cat brain, that mangy mutt had invaded his yard, and, like a marshal in the old West, he went out and took care of business. 

The reality, though, is that the coyote couldn’t have cared less about the foolhardy feline stalking him in the grass. It was the guy behind the cat who made the difference.

But try telling Fluff that. Despite the fact that he was clearly outmatched, I will never get credit for saving the day. Cats aren’t exactly known for their gratitude, so it’s to be expected. Unfortunately, sometimes I see the same attitude operating in myself. 

How many times have I found myself in a jam, been bailed out by God, and failed to give Him credit? I’m sure there are far too many times when I’ve chalked up something going well to my own skill, wisdom, effort or just dumb luck rather than acknowledging the good God who is operating behind the scenes and helping me do things I could never do on my own. 

How many times have I found myself in a jam, been bailed out by God, and failed to give Him credit? I’m sure there are far too many times when I’ve chalked up something going well to my own skill, wisdom, effort or just dumb luck rather than acknowledging the good God who is operating behind the scenes and helping me do things I could never do on my own. 

James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above” (NIV). I say I believe that, but do I really live like it? Sometimes, I don’t even stop to say, “Thank You, God!” Other times, even when I do, I don’t really take the time to reflect on what a big deal it was that the God who created the universe loved me enough to intervene on my behalf. 

That truth shouldn’t just change my circumstances, it should change my heart.

Yes, in this sin-broken world, bad things happen that don’t make a whole lot of sense, but what about the good things that happen that don’t make a whole lot of sense either? 

Like my cat, we don’t always appreciate how much God has helped us, because we have no idea how close we may have come to disaster. His very intervention sometimes prevents us from seeing how He saved the day. 

Like my cat, we don’t always appreciate how much God has helped us, because we have no idea how close we may have come to disaster. His very intervention sometimes prevents us from seeing how He saved the day. 

I don’t think we’ll ever know this side of heaven how many times God has protected us, provided for us and answered the prayers of those who have been praying for us from a distance. Why does this matter? Because not only does God deserve praise and gratitude, but this awareness of God’s activity in our lives helps us trust Him for the future. 

When I recognize the presence of the One who has helped me through so many struggles in the past, I really do begin to believe that there is nothing I will ever face alone. •

Photo credit:  JSim2018 / shutterstock.com