Of Owls, Kittens and Complacency

com·pla·cen·cy \kəm-ˈplā-sən(t)-sē\

Self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies

It was spring, the air was still and cool. I had just pulled into the driveway when I saw a rather large bird flying low in my back yard and land on a post close to the fence. Curiosity and awe comingled inside my chest. I got out of my car and carefully shut the door. I walked quietly to the gate and gently lifted the latch. The creature still sat majestically on its perch in the back corner of the yard. I softly walked toward it until I stood just at the base of the post. I had already deduced that the creature was a rather large owl. I stood there gazing up at it. I slowly reached for my phone to take pictures, but a smoky charcoal owl against a black night sky does not photograph well. ‘Oh well’, I thought. ‘I will just be mindful of the moment and capture it forever in my memory.’ Soon enough, as my eyes were riveted on this empirical creature, I began to feel something at my feet. I looked down to notice my 9 month old kitten brushing against my ankles. ‘How did she get out of the house?’ I wondered. I looked back up. The owl was turning its head from side to side and I continued to stare, amazed that I could get this close to something so powerful. I looked back down at my calico. Then back up at the owl. Maybe it took me longer than most people to realize it, but I soon understood why the owl was in my yard and so willing to allow me to get this close without flying off. The owl was not staring at my kitten-it was staring at its next meal! All the while my kitten was playing at my feet and brushing my ankles. Suddenly nervous, I reached down to pick up my kitten when she ran to a live oak a few feet away. I followed quickly. As she was running to the tree, and I was running after her, the owl swooped over my head and down in between me and the kitten. I yelled and ran harder, waving my arms in front of me. I must have made a ridiculous looking scene. The kitten got to the tree and quickly climbed up. The owl perched even higher in the same tree, not willing to let its prey get away so easily. I grabbed a ladder, while keeping one eye on the owl, and propped it against the tree. I had resolved to do whatever was necessary to get my kitten out of the tree and safely indoors. Fortunately she did not resist too much. I climbed to the very top of the ladder. Reaching out, I wrapped my hand around the underside of her belly and lifted her up, her claws digging into the bark of one of the branches. Once she was inside, I went back out to see the owl again. After all, it was only doing what is in an owl's nature to do, so why be angry? It soon flew off. There was no reason for it to stick around now.

A few days later I thought about the whole incident and realized that I had witnessed a living example of complacency. My kitten was rolling around playing outside when about 12 feet above her was sitting Death-with both eyes focused on her. It was waiting for an opportunity to wrap its razor-sharp talons around her tiny body and carry her away to be consumed bit by bit. Complacency can be dangerous for anyone. I notice for me personally I get complacency confused with contentment. Contentment is actually a good thing. The Bible teaches us to be content in all things. Buddhism teaches contentment, not desiring or being attached to the non-permanent things of this world. Being content means to be happy and satisfied. Contentment is a very positive state to dwell in. But I can allow this to lead to complacency if I’m not careful. I can become complacent when I stop trying to improve myself as a person. If I stop seeking out learning opportunities; if I run from challenges rather than facing them; if I stop turning to wise friends when I need help (which usually I do), then I am complacent. I am in a very dangerous state of mind. I like to say ‘Contentment without complacency.’ That is where I strive to remain.

vig·i·lant \ˈvi-jə-lənt\

Alertly watchful especially to avoid danger

dil·i·gent \ˈdi-lə-jənt\

Characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort

As an addict living a new life in recovery, complacency can go much deeper. Regardless of anyone’s opinions on addiction it is, from a medical standpoint, an incurable disease. That means that I always have a sense of danger lurking nearby. Just like that owl eyeing my kitten, my addiction is always perched just a few feet away wi​​th both eyes on me. If I become complacent my disease will tear me apart and leave me for dead. That seems grim but it is a reality. Just look at all of the celebrities who die from their addictions. And keep in mind that for every celebrity there are thousands of ‘nobodies’ in the world who share that fate. I personally have faced death many times thanks to my addiction. I hate addiction but must accept the reality that is.

Addiction kills daily and indiscriminately. As an addict, complacency can look like me not working a 12-step program, ‘forgetting’ to call my sponsor frequently, not staying in contact with God, or falling off of service to others. If I stop being productive and responsible I am complacent. Now my addiction can have its way with me and I am set for relapse-which may be deadly. For this reason I must be ever vigilant in my life and seek diligently to do better daily.

Complacency can take many shapes and forms. It can be easy sometimes to slip into, and difficult to recognize once already there. How do I avoid it? I simply work (not try) to do better, be better and live better each day. I do everything I can do the best of my ability. Some days my best may not be that great but it does not matter if I did MY best. And the really exciting thing is that each day my best gets a little bit better! I will never be perfect but I can aim for it and be content with what happens, but never, ever complacent.