My Disciples,
If you are reading this, I have departed. Let us first just acknowledge the weight of that. Our journey together was not nearly as long as I hoped it would be, but please know that it has been an honor to have met so many wonderful people, furred and non-furred, and to have shared the trials and triumphs of My life with you.
It has been an honor.
I know that during My long convalescence many of you were hoping and praying for a miracle to happen that would save My life, and it may seem like that miracle didn’t happen. But I need you to understand something. That miracle did happen. It did happen, and it did save My life, but it happened at the beginning, not the end.
The miracle happened at the beginning, not the end.
The miracle that saved My life happened seven years ago when two humans looked out into their yard and saw a desperate, starving kitten looking back at them. They didn’t know who I was or where I had come from. They didn’t know what potential lay within Me, or the cat that I could become. They only knew that I needed their help. The miracle happened when they made the choice to rescue Me.
This was the miracle.
Had the Guardians not made that one, simple choice, I might have slipped into The Shadows forever. I would not have experienced seven blissful years filled with love and happiness in their care. I would never have met The Brothers, or Thomas, or Mama Cat. You would not know Me, or even know that I ever existed. There would be no Cult of Otis because there would be no Otis. In My darkest hour I needed a miracle and I got it, and the life I lived afterward was better than I could have ever imagined.
I loved my life.
As all lives must, My life has come to an end. I know that, due to My young age, My end may seem tragically premature, but a life should be judged by its quality, not its length. I had a rich, full life, and all of you helped make it even more so. For that you have My everlasting gratitude.
Thank you all for enriching My life.
But now I must finally say it, My Disciples, the hardest word of all.
Goodbye.
Although My spirit has departed, a part of Me will remain. When you look out into the world without walls and see a cat in need looking back at you, I will be there by your side. You will feel My soft breath on your cheek and My purrs of encouragement in your ear. Listen closely, and through the purrs you will hear My final commandment come to you in a whisper.
Be the miracle.
So Sayeth Otis
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Oh Otis. Two years later, these words read just like they did in October of 2013. We miss your presence here on our plane, yet I believe you continue to help shrink the world without walls and expand the hearts of humans. Thank you for being a constant inspiration. Miracles happen every day thanks to people like The Guardians. And to Leaders, like you. Peace.
What a lovely way to remember a life and to note it was happily well-lived.
Memories are golden.
Otis, your message lives. From Fred De Cat and the 17 feral cats on the porch.
I’ll be a blubbery mess if I re-read the Leader’s last message again, but I want to say thank you to Cult for all they do for kittykind and that today is a good day to honor all the kitties we’ve loved and lost and those kitties who sadly died in the shadows without ever receiving the safe homes and love they deserved. May the world only improve in being a better place for cats.
Sigh …. it is so very hard to read those words again, because our hearts still ache for him. He was and still is such an inspiration. Our little Otis is named for him and was saved in the Capture just two weeks after The Leader left us. Lola and Luna were also both swept up in the Capture. And Griffon was adopted from the Animal Defense League. We try to live by your example and will continue to do so in honor of your beautiful boy and your inspiring words. Thank you for teaching us to enrich our lives, because we are truly both blessed as much as they are by one another’s presence.
Purrs and much love from Linda, David, Lola, Griffon, Luna, and little Otis
Otis your message lives on.
*red ear* and human *red cheeks* We quoted the Leader as Be The ‘Change’ rather than as he advised “Be The Miracle” . And indeed even if we got the word wrong, The Leader is the reason I now have a younger black panther sister, Sage. She was adopted immediately after Leader Otis sent his last message. Your hurt and grieving is also ours. Seriously.
You’re not forgotten, Otis. I don’t believe you will ever be forgotten. Love to you and your Guardians from Rhiannon, who will continue to try to be the miracle.
It still hurts reading this, 2 years later. Miss you, Otis.
Oh boy. This made me cry all over again, but it reminded me of something also, which is in fact the miracle that happens any time we allow ourselves to act from love. We’ve just rescued, yes, a DOG (he’ll never be part of the LFDU of course but now we worry about the LFCU instead) and knowing that a) someone callously left him to die and b) he didn’t, and won’t, is really amazing. Best high five paws to all.
Otis, since you have passed, we have been the miracle for two more kitties who came to us asking for help. That makes seven current rescued kitties and one rescued boxer, all happy and safe together! We’ll never forget!
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
We miss you Otis!
Noodle and crew
You live on in our hearts just as you do in so many sweet boy, you changed the world. When someone says something hateful or stupid about cats and their worth in the world, you immediately come to mind as the mancat who proves the only truth lies in their ignorance. We do and will continue to make sure your message lives dear Otis, know you have made us better cats and people.
I hadn’t read the blog of Otis for a while and just stopped by. I didn’t realize Otis had left this plane of existence. What a wonderful last post — and he’s right, his life should be judged on quality and not length. His miracle DID come at the beginning of his life. Bless you for rescuing him.
Otis, your whispered words are still heard. Paws for peace.
Thinking of you
Just as moving as when I read the original posting. Thank you. Miss your posts.
I’m so glad this site remains active, I continue to link to it for those who need to understand how to rescue cats from the The Shadow Land!