Crickets & Cats

Even though it is not quite the middle of Feb., Spring has come to my part of the world.  I can tell by the number of dead crickets that have been lovingly left as offerings by grateful felines.  The cats delight in bringing me proof of their expertise in hunting.  They expect to be praised and petted, and they are not disappointed.

I have nothing against crickets.  In fact, I rather like them.  I love listening to their songs at night.  When I come upon one in my yard, I marvel at their beauty, both in color and in design.  The clean arch of their jump as they leap to safer grounds fills me with Awe.  When I find a dead one, I feel sad for the cricket, but glad for the cat.

My life is blessed with 6 wonderful cats: three are golden, two are grey and white, one is a water-colored calico.  All are precious children of the Earth, of God, if you will.  So are the crickets.  They too are precious children of this Earth.  As am I.  As are you.

Beauty is not always something you can put into words, you can only experience it.  The beauty of cricket-song is a blessing for those who stay awake as the darkness falls.  It is comforting.  It says all is right with the world.  

Yes, I am aware that too many crickets can devastate a crop.  To experience beauty is not to be blind to other aspects of it.  I love storms, for instance.  Yet storms can be highly destructive.  But somethings about the wind whipping about, the darkness gathering, the sound of the trees and grass bowing to the power of the storm, all that makes my blood sing.  It calls to something primordial in me.

Cats too, have their destructive side.  They are mighty hunters and for someone like myself, who tries to reverence all forms of life, it can be disconcerting to see a cat bring home a frightened mouse as a gift for me.  All I can do is praise the cat while I try to catch the mouse to set it outside before the cats can get at it again.

Yet when all the cats (and the dogs) are curled up in bed with me, all I can feel is the beauty of them.  All I can hear is the song of their purr.  All I can see is their grace.  

I am blessed by having them in my life, both the cats, and the crickets.