Small Things Add Up

This is a personal note. Feel free to skip it.

We have an older neighbor who has become abusive (shouts swears). She accuses us of things. She threatens to sue. We kill trees in her yard. We put water under her house. We steal her newspaper. And now, our outdoor cat has given her indoor dog fleas.

Everyone who hears of it chuckles, but this last accusation has become a problem. Hunter is a working cat, a Maine Coon we hired as a mouser. He looks and acts like this: http://www.catteries.org.uk/MaineCoon.html. Outdoor cats are fairly common here. They hold down vermin. Hunter does a good job. But in our town, it is an infraction to allow a cat out of confinement. Must be on a leash (ha) or kept in a fenced yard (how?).

Our neighbor has now repeatedly called animal control hoping to have Hunter captured. We live in woodland, next to a wilderness-style park. So, each night animal control tries for Hunter, but gets a possum or a raccoon or the like, and takes them away. We now confine Hunter nearing 24 hours a day, but it makes him crazy. Hunter is fixed, not noisy or troublesome. For ten years, he's been doing his job without bothering anyone, including our neighbor. In fact, he's a great guy, and quite popular. But now he has a mortal enemy.

I know this is small, but harassment takes its toll. If you can relate, join me in prayer:

"Father, each of us has influences in our lives that deflect us from task. Sometimes circumstances, sometimes health, sometimes malice. We ask that you help us press right through distractions. If it please you, we ask that you would remove the worst of these distractions, and grant us peace and focus as we serve you. We ask in Jesus' name, amen."

Rick