Baxter is particular about where he lies down and how he positions himself there. There are certain places he has staked out as his own for years the old chair I wanted to discard before he claimed it, the TV table covered with his special blanket, the mattress that was his since he was a kitten, and, of course, my bed covered with another special blanket for his warmth and comfort. (Linus has nothing on Baxter!) Once standing on one of these personal territories, Baxter then has to find the right spot.
He circles the area a couple of times, plops down, wiggles a body contoured groove into the surface, then settles in for either a full-fledged nap or a regal posture, where he presides over his domain with head erect, paws straight out front, and eyes set on staring into space. Royal lions framing a throne have nothing on Baxter in his mind. In one of these special places, Baxter feels at home. He fits. He belongs.
We humans have the same proclivities, don’t we? Who doesn’t have their favorite chair? Who doesn’t prefer to sleep in their own bed? Who doesn’t like to get home and settle back into the familiar routine after a time away? We carve out a place for ourselves in this world, each in our own way, and we find comfort and security there. Like Baxter, over the years we create spaces where we fit and belong.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.” Jesus assures His disciples that they fit and belong in God’s Kingdom, if they are faithful in their discipleship. There isn’t only one personality type or life style, one physical appearance or social setting, one occupation or economic class where His followers belong. True disciples are of all types and walks of life, in many different circumstances with different cultural customs and heritages. These distinctions make for a rich picture of the humanity God assumed when the Word became flesh in Jesus.
We don’t have to lose our uniqueness to become part of God’s household. We just have to join it to the common roots Jesus has shown us as children of God and fellow followers of the Gospel. In this way, we learn to respect each other’s differences while recognizing our oneness in Christ. Such is the communion of saints we claim as our faith community. No one is a clone of another, but each belongs to the other to be complete.
Baxter helps to make whatever house I live in a home, but I have to give him his space for him to feel at home. We all need the same thing from each other and for each other.
