Sylvester Syndrome

Sylvester Syndrome

Earlier last year, in preparation for our summer vacation, I purchased a set of Looney Tunes DVDs for us to watch in the van to help pass the long hours of driving that would go along with the trip. I would like to say I purchased them for the children, but in reality they were mostly for me. The crazy antics of Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, and Foghorn Leghorn still tickle my funny bone and make me laugh out loud. I also enjoy the mischievous merriment of Sylvester and Tweety. However, I have always been puzzled as to why that good-sized cat would exert so much energy chasing that tiny little speck of a bird. Tweety in no way would make a meal for Sylvester. In fact, I doubt he would even qualify as an appetizer. At my best estimate, Tweety’s head makes up by far the largest majority of his total body mass. There surely isn’t more than 10% of that bird that is edible. Nonetheless, Sylvester repeatedly endures such abuse as being mauled by Butch the bulldog, being flattened by speeding vehicles, and falling victim to the misfires of his own bird-catching schemes and contraptions. Regardless of how many times he gets blown up or falls off a cliff, he just continues his senseless struggle. That obstinate feline risks life and limb persistently pursuing a little yellow creature that when eaten for dinner might satisfy him for 15 minutes.

As silly as Sylvester’s pursuit of Tweety might seem, it is not uncommon for mankind to engage in this same type of enterprise. So many times we pour ourselves feverishly into endeavors that in the end will net us very short-lived satisfaction. We chase after possessions or relationships that ultimately never bring us the fulfillment they seem to boldly promise from a distance. Countless days, months, and even years of our lives are spent working diligently to lay hold of that one thing on earth which we are so sure will provide us with the contentment we so desperately hunger for. Unfortunately, so often we put out maximum effort only to find ourselves holding in our hand that which only minimally and momentarily quenches our thirst. It seems that we, as human beings, are easily susceptible to this “Sylvester syndrome;” and in fact, we can be infected with this condition and never even realize it until one day we actually catch Tweety and find he is truly 90% bone.

God speaks to us about this cat-astrophic condition in Isaiah 55:2, stating, “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.” Only God understands what true bread is. Only God has knowledge of what will sufficiently satisfy that which He personally created. He not only knows the answer, but He himself is the answer. He satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with good (Psalm 107:9). Nothing but God will ever be able to fill the hunger that haunts the human heart. We may seek to quiet that inner rumble with everything that man can offer, but in the end we will always find ourselves leaving the table wanting more. This world simply has nothing on its menu that will settle the appetite for God in our soul. He alone is the bread of life. He is what our hearts desire. Best of all, He promises that if we passionately pursue Him, we will not come up empty-handed and we will find ourselves extravagantly and eternally satisfied, wanting nothing more except more of Him.

(Psalms 37:4) Find your delight in the LORD. Then he will give you everything your heart really wants.

©LaDonna Neel – January 2010