I read an interesting little piece about cats a few weeks ago. Did you know that there is a Moscow Cat Circus? Yes, a professional clown began training cats in 1971 to do tricks like walking tightropes, riding bicycles and balancing on mirrored disco balls. Many of these “stars” were rescued strays whom their trainer took in and worked with to get them to perform these feats that seem beyond the characteristics of the species. Trained dogs? Of course, they will do anything for attention and to please their masters. Trained cats? Are you kidding me? But according to the article, even cats can perform beyond their native instincts to the astonishment of their audiences.
So there is hope for us. Looking at the terrible things that human beings do to each other—torture, slavery, drug selling, murder—we can lose our faith in the goodness of human nature. Add to these the fraud, deception, theft, and general meanness we can pull on each other, and there is little wonder that a recent survey said that trust among Americans is at an all time low. Only one third of us have any trust in our fellow citizens, down from 50% in 1971. But remember, no one expects cats to do circus tricks, but they do. How can we hope for more from each other?
By relying upon what God showed us about ourselves when He became flesh and dwelt among us. In God becoming human in Jesus, God uses our human nature to reveal His love and goodness. Jesus speaks words of forgiveness and healing, new life and hope when others want to condemn, reject and despair of human renewal. Jesus touches what others abhor, eats with sinners and tax collectors, and talks with strangers and Samaritans. These are all human ways to connect with others on a divine plain. He is not afraid of what might happen or distrustful of the outcomes. He enters into human interaction to show the divine link that can connect us to each other.
This kind of human encounter over God is tricky at times. Remember how the Scribes and Pharisees tried to trap Jesus. Remember how His own disciples ran off when He was in trouble with the authorities. But Jesus mastered the trick of walking the tightrope of human searching and desire to land on the other side, the place where God is found as the secure platform where anyone can stand, even if one is nailed to a cross. For Jesus, this kind of relationship with each other in God isn’t entertainment. It is the meaning and purpose of life, and the sign of eternal life to come.
Baxter is no circus entertainer. His tricks are mundane and casual. But they do hint at possibilities for his species I never thought could happen. Jesus’ human tricks open possibilities for us that we never imagined from our cynical and depressed point of view. Give our humanity a chance to shine with divine potential. Jesus shows us how. Just practice, practice, practice Gospel ways, and one day we may all be surprised at what God has made of us.
