#108of365 #FaithBites #FaithJourney #MakeMeASandwhich

Today’s lesson is about a cat making a sandwich. You might be wondering, why is Sol talking about a cat making a sandwich? Can a cat make a sandwich? Does the cat take requests? How do I train my cat to make a sandwich?

Sorry to burst your bubble, but I don’t have a cat who can make a sandwich. I don’t even have a cat. This metaphor came to me from a friend many years ago when talking about expectation. I have high expectations of people. I expect them to do many things, including reading my mind. (I’m working on voicing my desires rather than expecting them to read my mind). When someone doesn’t do what I think they should do, I get a bit ticked off. This is where the cat comes in.

My friend told me, if I don’t expect my cat to make me a sandwich when the cat doesn’t make it, I won’t be disappointed or upset. Think about it. How many times have you expected someone to do things, but then realized it’s the same as expecting your furry friend to make you a BLT. It won’t happen. You may be able to get your cat to eat your sandwich but chances are, they are not going to make it for you.  Some of this is because of wrong expectations. Some of this is because you weren’t clear on expectations. Some of this is just because you are you, and your friend (not cat) is who they are.

But God isn’t like that. He meets expectations

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55: 8-9

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” -Romans 8:28

Sometimes we think God doesn’t meet our expectations. We see him as a cat who not only doesn’t make the sandwich the way we like it but often times doesn’t provide for us at all. We try to box in how God should work and how he should answer our prayers. As the Isaiah passage shows us, God doesn’t think like us. He has more power and higher ways than we can even think of. It’s the old adage that there is a method to the madness. God answers our prayers. He meets our expectations in his ways. As the Romans’ text shows us, God makes it work for us. He pulls the pieces together in the way that they need to work. If we got everything we wanted. If we had all our expectations met, then we wouldn’t know struggle and turmoil. If we didn’t know struggle and turmoil, then we couldn’t truly appreciate all of the beauty that God has to offer.

So next time you find someone not meeting your expectations. Ask yourself, are you asking a cat to make a sandwich? Are you asking a friend to do something they are not equipped for or do not even know you expect that of them? And if you truly expect your cat to make the sandwich, the least you could do is put all the ingredients on the counter and open up the jars. You know, life without opposable thumbs is hard.

Are you willing to see that God meets all expectations, even if humans fail? Are you willing to see that it may be you have the wrong expectations for people? Are you willing to use your soulful and thoughtful voice to clear up expectations?

I am willing (with the help of God)