(I posted this originally last October. But it fit so well into what I’ve been thinking these days, that I decided to send it out again. Adventures in the garden – for all of us!)
We had not done much with our yard, having focused on renovating the house. But now it was time. First, before planting anything, was to replace the fence. And if we did it right, the cats could have the freedom of the entire backyard.
So we had a six-foot cedar fence installed. Then we went around and carefully fixed it so that no one could tunnel out. After a final inspection , it was ready to test. We opened the door and let the cats out for the first time without harnesses.
This was great, they thought. We followed them around as they walked their territory, finding endless things to sniff. One thing that fascinated Missy was the big elm tree in the center of the yard. Each time she would start up, we would stop her with a firm “NO!” and put her back on the ground. After a while, she did not even try.
And that is when I made my mistake. One day I went in to fix lunch, confident that the cats would be safe by themselves in the yard. From time to time, I checked on them, but all seemed well.
After a while, I heard Archie crying at the door. When I opened it, he flew past me. Not wanting Missy out alone, I called her. She did not come.
Bratty cat, I thought. She’s having too much fun. I started to look for her.
And I couldn’t find her. now I was puzzled, and a little frightened. Had she gotten out of the yard?
Then something prompted me to look up. There, high above my head was my little cat, walking the branches as though she’d been doing it all her life.
Great! I thought. Now what? Does she know how to get down?
She did not. I called and encouraged her by shaking a can of treats, but she could not make it back farther than the trunk. “Up” was the only direction she was comfortable with.
Now we were panicking. What if she fell? Missy’s meows were beginning to reflect our anxiety.
Finally she moved to where my son could reach her from the top of the ladder. I will never forget the feeling of having my baby back in my arms.
But our adventure was not quite over. A few days later, Missy repeated the trick for Barry. This time it took a neighbor and a much longer ladder to get her down.
The elm tree now wears a tutu of chicken wire, and our little adventuress stays on the ground.
When I said “No” I didn’t see
That fascination with the tree
Would make her disobey my word
And act as if she hadn’t heard.
Are humans different? I think not.
You, too, gave man a garden spot.
But man became sin’s casualty
Through the temptation of a tree.
Now there is nothing man can do
To find the way back down to You.
For every effort of his will
Just serves to take him farther still.
‘Twas up to You to find a way
To save the one who’d gone astray.
At Calvary, You climbed the tree
To get man down and set him free.