The Fresno Kitten by Jason Goldtrap

Every moment is precious which is why the word begins with “m-o-m.” We live in an age of hyper-media saturation: TVs blaring bad news, vile music booming from cars and internet videos celebrating the worst in humanity; but if you look with your heart instead of your eyes you can see the best.

Saturday, June 8, 2013: It was just another house fire in Fresno, California. The family of three made it out in time, the house suffered damages but it was not destroyed thanks to the fire department. Fireman Cory Kalanick was told to look for salvage. His helmet camera showed burned out furniture, singed walls, collapsed ceiling tiles, all of the charcoal signatures of smoke. But as he entered the living room he saw lying on the floor, a kitten.

            All indications were that inferno had claimed one victim. The kitten was lifeless: no heartbeat, no breath, limp. He picked it up, took it outside and grabbed an oxygen tank. Setting the kitten on his glove so it would not be injured by the hot asphalt on the street, he covered its mouth with a mask and began giving it oxygen. He took a rag and poured cold water over it. He gently massaged it. After emptying the tank, after 15 minutes of trying, a miracle occurred, the kitten began breathing. “Lucky”, named by the crew, meowed his appreciation and was happily returned to his family.

            It is human nature to seek life, to rescue a kitten who is coughing, frightened or injured. It is Divine to see beyond the barriers of helplessness and the awful sting of death and bring life.   Most would have given up: Cory Kalanick did not.

            It is human nature to give up when annihilating smoke leaves behind a limp, lifeless victim: when the child you love is arrested, when your husband walks out, when the bills can’t be paid, when a friend betrays your trust, when you are all alone and drowning in tears, “I can’t believe I just said that.”

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

It is human nature to quit; it is Divine to fervently hope when hope is gone.

Hebrews 7:25b He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

This week, if you see hopelessness, pray, get the oxygen and apply water.

Psalm 116:8-9 For You have delivered my soul from death, My eyes from tears, And my feet from falling. I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living. At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Amazing Kitten Rescue in Fresno