Nessie versus Athena (without Ninjas)

Nessie versus Athena?

Nessie wins, more or less, though Athena maintains her dignity. This is the present “versus game” in our house, a game of great antiquity.

One of my children, now a very clever adult, as a child wished for a school play on the Loch Ness monster and Dracula. These were two very great interests and the only other requirement was that in the play both creatures be REAL. I was not allowed to pawn off Nessie as a dream, as an alternative reality, but to make both the monsters clash in space and time. Nessie won, of course, though that was the subject of long debates in our house.

The “versus game” was good for my brother and for me and my children engaged in it as well. If Batman fought Aquaman then who would win? In my era, Batman was so obvious as to be tedious, though there were few real superheroes that Batman could beat. Batman, clever man that he was, versus Homer’s Ares? This is much trickier as Ares, though immortal, was a coward, not a great fighter, and Batman is the Batman. We had to ban Superman as Superman could defeat anyone unless you made a great many rules. Superman versus Flash in a race? That was good, even if there was an almost canonical answer.

History gave us other versus games or discussions. Grant versus Lee? In our house, if you had to ask, we worried about you. Lincoln wrote the words that freed the slaves, Grant won the battles and fought to make the Amendment XV real. Lee? He lost.

Meanwhile, our family kept debating the versus featuring one child’s favorite: Loch Ness monster versus . . .

Inevitably, we have ended up with a dog named “Nessie” and a cat named Athena. The cat is eighteen years old, but in her day was a mighty hunter before the Lord. She slew so many rats in a house that we dubbed Rat House that she earned a retirement that can extend forever or until our money runs out. She was named Athena, because she was (and sometimes still is) a goddess of war and wisdom. She does as she wishes and at least one child was mentored by her.

Nessie is a force of nature. She came small and grows larger daily, though still thinking she is a lap dog. She attempts to play with Athena as she does with her friend Sunny at the dog play area. This goes better than you might think. Athena, who in her day might have attacked, merely slouches to higher ground and swats Nessie away.

Nessie versus Athena?

Nessie wins, though Athena has not tried very hard. They have, however, taken to sleeping in our main chairs. They do much together with social distancing, evidently having listened to Dr. Fauci by way of Dr. Dolittle. Their interaction is delightful as the aging goddess finds new interest in life stalking the buoyant, giant monstrous beast while the jolly pup chases the tail of the fluffy animal that is a very odd dog to her puppy mind. Both eat the other’s food, both use the same litter box, though for different ends.

They sleep in the same room and all is well.

Versus games with super heroes, fictional characters, or generals is fun. Versus games in life most often are toxic. We have to fight, but even then a Christian warrior like US Grant hates war and loves his enemies. Life is not a “versus” game, but love. This love is just, not weak, charitable, not sloppy, and rational, not crazy.

There is nothing profound to say here, but that to the good God all our versus games in life must seem like those played by Nessie and Athena. They are both blessed, kept from destruction by adoption. They do not really need to fight, wish to battle. They are well fed and content. There is room enough for the two of them. The competition is a game. And when I saw them asleep together, beloved versus foes, I thought that I should recall this image the next time I engage in serious, seemingly serious, mortal combat of ideas.

The “versus” is only necessary, because some refuse consent to perfect goodness, truth, and beauty. This is our right, but this is not choosing wisely. We cannot win such a “game” and the loss is all our own! Perfect goodness is not made less by our rejection and we end up damnably sad. We could look at our “enemies” and find a comfortable place and have peace. Rest, peace, love are the objectives of the Christian life. We are not too proud to fight, but we prefer peace.

Nessie is snoring and Athena is watching.

God give us peace from our versus games.