Mayhem…and Miracles
February 26, 2025
by Kim Childs, CPPC
The title of this post refers to the deeply disturbing events I’ve witnessed in my country and world in recent years, especially this year. All I’ll add right now about the mayhem is that any optimism I feel relates to this hopeful quote by Martin Luther King Jr., “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.”
And so…on to the miracles part, because we all need those.
In early December, my beloved cat Petey went out for his morning neighborhood rounds. When he didn’t reappear by evening, I started to worry. The next day, I began putting out the word, in all the ways one can these days, that my precious tabby was missing. Five weeks later, I received a call from Arlington’s animal control offer that led me to my fur baby – skinny, dehydrated, crying and alive, after being trapped in a neighbor’s basement.
It felt like a miracle, just as I’d given up hope. Here’s what else happened during my time of waiting and fretting, to lift my spirits and feed my aching heart:
Within days of Petey’s disappearance, an army of kind and loving friends, neighbors, strangers, and cat lovers came forth to help by spreading the word online and through word of mouth, making and posting waterproof fliers and post cards, and knocking on doors with me. One neighbor even got in her car and drove around, trying to spot him.
I felt truly supported and held.
Many of these people shared miracle stories of pets gone missing who returned against the odds. One even serenaded me with the children’s song, “The Cat Came Back” as a big smile spread across her face. I relied on all of them to hold the possibility of a positive outcome with me.
While enduring the absence of my furry kid and his gentle love, I was flooded with the love and kindness of people who came forth to support me in my distress and grief. Some checked in regularly, came over for tea, and planned visits and outings to distract me. A few others just let me cry. It was all needed.
There were also encouraging signs, like a friend’s Magic 8 ball app, which said “You can be certain of it” when she asked “Will Petey return home?” and the tricky burner on my stove, which lights when it wants to. I often turned on the gas and said, “If the burner lights, Petey will come back.” Each time I asked, it did.
One night after his disappearance when I couldn’t sleep, I went outside under a nearly full moon to speak Petey’s name in the street. Some part of me hoped he’d hear and come to me. Instead, I saw a shooting star on my way back to the house, quite an unusual event given all the streetlights around. Turns out it was coming from exactly the direction where he was trapped.
We’ve all heard of psychics, right? Well, there are intuitive people who also tune into non-humans, calling themselves animal communicators. I know three of them through my energy healing and social networks, and each one kept telling me that my cat was alive and “fine,” even as my doubts grew with each passing week. One of them accurately described his circumstances, although she couldn’t tell me where, exactly, he was.
And finally, the night before I found my sweet kitty I dreamed he was home, weaving in and out of my legs. The next morning, it was true.
When I shared the good news about Petey’s amazing return, so many people said “I needed this miracle too!” and “Makes my day!” and “I really needed to hear this story” as the year began amid grim headlines and their own personal struggles. I share the story in case you need it, too.
After writing a draft of this post, I took a walk in my neighborhood to clear my head under blue skies and puffy cloud formations. One of them looked just like…a cat. I guess Petey also wanted me to share his story.
Kim Childs, CPPC, is a Certified Life and Career Coach specializing in Positive Psychology, creativity, and life transitions. Click here to learn more and schedule an initial consultation.