Walking the dog has not been nearly so eventful in our new neighborhood. It’s gated, surrounded by a wall, more in the city than where we were before. Deer encounters were frequent. Here’s a classic picture with Babo, our previous dog, a picture which triggered recreational outrage that I wrote about before.

Things are much more tame here. The only excitement has been keeping my dog from chasing the rabbits.

One day, however, I looked up, and about 10 yards away was a large cat. My immediate thought was, “Wow. That’s a big cat, and what is a house cat doing outside unattended?” I was able to lead my dog in such a way that he didn’t see it.

Only after I got home, did I realize, “That wasn’t a house cat. That was a bobcat! A few days later, someone who lives about a mile from me posted this picture:

That’s “my” cat. Upon reflection, this verse came to mind:

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5.8, NKJV)

He wasn’t roaring, but “seeking whom he may devour” is exactly what the cat was doing. Folks on NextDoor commenting on the picture said things like, “The reason he looks so healthy is that he’s been eating my chickens!”

The cat gave my dog the once-over, but my presence apparently intimidated him enough. The 1 Peter passage continues…

Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. (1 Peter 5.9, NKJV)