My Teacher

Many years ago I heard someone say that every person we encounter in our lives is a teacher. That means that within every interaction with every person throughout every moment of our day there lies an opportunity to learn--something. It is our responsibility to pay attention to these interactions in order to identify and learn the lesson. If we choose to ignore the lesson, it will come again and again in slightly different and stronger ways until we have no choice but to stand still and learn.

I believe that is true. I also believe that not only do we learn from every person we meet but also from every encounter with animals and nature. Today this idea struck me like lightening from above.

Now that the kittens are getting around and getting into everything, especially trouble, I felt it necessary to spend time in the barn making every nook and cranny secure. Since the temperatures have begun to climb, I began looking for ways to keep the barn cool without allowing the kittens to get out or an unwanted intruder to get in. Not an easy task with what I had to work with.

Finally, after sweeping up, tidying up, tightening up, and watching these four-week-old kittens literally run and climb like Olympic athletes, I decided there was no immediate means to keep them out of trouble. With that I rounded them up with the intention of putting them back into their kennel along with mom, closing the door, attaching a baby-gate at the door of the barn, then leaving for an hour so I could get something else done. The plan involved returning every two hours or so to allow mom out to stretch her legs and take care of her business, since the litter box is on the outside of the kennel. The kennel is plenty big enough for her litter box, food, and water, however, the kittens are busy enough to wreak havoc scattering the food, eating the litter, and drowning in the water.

So there I was chasing kittens one at a time, putting it inside the kennel, searching for another, bringing it back, then discovering that the first one is no where to be found. These three Houdini's kept me running and searching for ten minutes--laughing all the way--me, not them. Once I got all three in the kennel, closing the door became another game of chance. I finally got the door closed after pushing back one then the other, then the one again, only to realize that Puff was not in the kennel. I opened the door, picked up Puff, and that quick three little kittens hopped out of the kennel and ran behind the stack of hay. At that point I sat down in front of the kennel, looked at Puff and said, "what should I do"? She walked up to me rubbed up against my leg then bit my hand.

Puff is not an aggressive cat nor is she nervous about me handling the kittens, so I took this as a sign, or, an answer to my question. I knew instantly that Puff was telling me to stop chasing the kittens and putting them in the kennel--JUST STOP--was her answer. I listened. With that, I got up, secured the door, and left. When I returned an hour later, Puff had everything under control. Not one of the kittens was running around, climbing walls, or spilling dishes. All three were sound asleep on the rug in front of the kennel with Puff by there side.

I believe, and now I know, that within every encounter, whether with another person, a cat, or a flower, there contains the possibility for growth and expansion. It is our responsibility to awaken to this, seize the opportunity, and become all that we are meant to be.

And so it is...
Thank you Puff.