Catnip does strange things to cats. Baxter craves it at times. He rubs his head over it. He eats it. He lies on it. If it is in a toy, he bats it around, grabs it, and then bites it. Catnip will settle his stomach if it is a little off. It will calm him if he is agitated. It stimulates his energy to go a little crazy. It is a universal elixir for Baxter, balancing out whatever seems to be throwing him off his well-rounded life of eating, sleeping, purring, meowing and starting all that over again.
Catnip is a natural herb. It doesn’t have to be mixed or synthesized, refrigerated or cooked, and it can be used through multiple delivery systems—eaten, smelled, packaged or loose. It comes dried or fresh growing. It is very versatile yet quite effective. It seems to cure what ails the cat, at least for a while, and according to Baxter, it is worth a try to improve anything from arthritis to the ordinary blues. Catnip is the universal cat medicine, the aspirin of the cat world. It takes away the pain and gives a little relief from the wear and tear of daily living. It stimulates both euphoria and peace according to the needs of the nipper. It’s a gift to the cat world.
The Holy Spirit is God’s gift to our world. It was released through Christ’s death and resurrection, and once set loose, it cannot be contained until the whole world is saved. Like catnip for cats, the Spirit provides what is needed to cope with the vicissitudes of life faithfully. You see, life is so unpredictable and varied that one size can’t fit all. To grow in faith we have to respond to whatever life brings to bear upon us. Sometimes that calls for steadying ourselves to remain constant in our practices and understanding. At other times, the Spirit provides us the courage and strength to meet a new challenge, to reach out in faith in a new way, still uncharted and untested. The early Church in the Acts of the Apostles knew both of these effects of the Spirit. It stood up to the challenges of some of the synagogue officials trying to stop this new preaching about Jesus as the fulfillment of the prophets. It supported Saint Paul in his mission to the Gentiles, and brought Saint Peter around to seeing this work as an extension of God’s ways in the post-Easter world. The Holy Spirit is the gyrocompass we use to navigate the balance beam on which we are asked to walk in our path through life. It gives our spirit energy and strength, a source of healing and forgiveness, and an attitude that keeps us upright on the beam while we move forward.
As we approach the close of the Easter season, let us open the door to the Holy Spirit in our lives. Through the Spirit we live the mystery of death and resurrection each day. Through this Spirit our hearts take on the attitude of God towards others, and our actions become the work of God through us. Through this Spirit we share a communion of life with each other that is greater and deeper than family or friendship.
So don’t forget the Spirit. It’s God’s natural elixir for us to live holy lives. Although Baxter might not think so, it is better than catnip for a balanced life of discipleship. Pray for the Spirit in the Church. “Come, Holy Spirit, fills the hearts of Thy Faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Your Love.”
