Herding Tigers, Caging Kittens

The problem with working on a staff is many folks lose touch with the reality of the war around them, and most of them outrank you. Yet, you are given the task of keeping them in line and on task.

Before I deployed, I took the family to the circus in town, and we saw a man making Bengal Tigers do tricks. Tigers aren't social creatures, and it was exciting to see them take a swipe or growl at him, and he turned just fast enough to stare it down or crack the whip. Because of their lack of a pack mentality, the tigers couldn't figure out they could easily take the tamer down if they just worked together. Individually, he mastered them, but if they teamed up, they very definitely had the upper hand.

This is like working on a staff. Often times the most vicious are also the most isolated, and when you stand your ground and swing your whip, they'll get in line. They're so focused on themselves and their little piece of earth, they can't see beyond their own whiskers. So even though it may seem impossible odds, as long as you can keep the tigers isolated or focused on themselves, they're actually pretty harmless.

Domestic house cats are different. They will often work together against whatever foe they encounter, be it dog, canary, or house plant. This is because house cats start life as kittens, in a group, dependent on one another. If you don't separate them, they'll protect each other their whole lives. When you have a kitten, however, you don't need a whip, just a lap and a hand ready to give massive pettings.

This shows me the most dangerous animal is not always the most vicious or he who has the sharpest teeth. Try to pet a tiger and he'll eat you. Whip a kitten and his brothers will grow to hate you. The trick is to know who to whip and who to stroke. You must understand the language of the animal, and speak it, whether it's aggressive, alpha mentality, or supportive and loving.

You can always herd tigers, because of their inate selfishness. Use it against them and you will face no danger. However, you'll never see a kitten coming, so you must lock it behind bars of encouragement. In a way, kittens are the most dangerous creatures on earth.

So next time you hear about meekness, recognize it for what it is, or can be, both a great character trait but also a terrible weapon. How many times have we seen the shameful "private" lives in the fall of great men in the church, who presented such godliness and meekness, only to be revealed for the liars they were? God directs our designated church leaders (in one sense, all men are spiritual leaders, at the very least in their home) to be above reproach, to not lead others down into sin; for following such a charge, these men are given a great reward in God's Eternal Kingdom.

But who thought up the idea that meekness, one of the godliest traits, could be turned into something terrible? The Chief Liar, the Main Pretender, that's who. Such is the fallen world we live in, that reality can be so cynical, so pervertedly twisted. God has a reason when He tells us to test every spirit, to expect wolves to sneak into the flock. Because you can see the danger a tiger represents, but you'll never expect a kitten to scratch out your eyes.