Freewheeling Blog: The Cat that Took Over the Sermon

My preacher dad was never fazed by babies or toddlers crying or disrupting his sermon. He was only partially disturbed when the president of the United States showed up after the service had started (https://www.ceciltaylorministries.com/post/random-blog-a-sermon-fit-for-a-president). By then, my father had already experienced the ultimate disruption - a visiting cat.

Back before air conditioning was prevalent, we would open up the windows of the church to allow a breeze. At least, that was the hope. In Texas, raising a window might raise the sanctuary temperature without the breeze's benefit.

Also back in the day, Sunday evening church was as common as Sunday morning. You worshipped on Sunday morning. You came back for more worship on Sunday evening. On a summer Sunday evening, my dad encountered his biggest nemesis.

As my dad delivered the sermon one sweaty night in our small town church, a cat leaped up into the open window (no screens on these windows). This particular window was near the front pew of the sanctuary, so the congregants took notice. Then the kitty leaped from the window sill, not just onto the front pew, but onto the top of the pew where you rested your back.

The cat wobbled for a moment before gaining its balance on the thin perch. My father continued preaching, but the eyes and attention of the congregation began to drift.

This tabby had more in mind. Gathering itself, it leaped to the top of the second pew, barely making it. It teetered precariously, but as cats often do, it was able to hold firm.

My father said by this point, no one was listening to his sermon as he droned on. The cat was their focus.

This feline kept going. It leaped from the second to the third pew, clutching the thin top margin just enough not to fall off. Then from the third pew to the fourth pew.

By this point, the cat had completely taken over the sermon. My dad said even he wasn't listening to himself anymore.

On went this Cirque du Pussycat. From the fourth pew to the fifth, and so forth, wavering with each bound. The tension built within the room. Would the cat continue jumping to every pew? Would it hold every time, or would it fail?

Eventually, the cat leapt to the top of the final pew, successful on all attempts. The worshippers somehow stifled a cheer.

Then the cat jumped to the floor and strolled casually through the open rear door of the sanctuary, never to be seen again.

I don't know if the sermon topic was leaps of faith, but if it had been, the cat had just given a marvelous demonstration.