Our theme for the month of June is “older and wiser.” Writers were asked to write a response to one of their previous pieces. Today, Jack responds to their November 2022 post, “Not Working.”
Will it be a summer of bliss, you ask.
I believe it can be, I answer.
Go, Qoheleth writes. Eat your bread with joy and drink your wine with a good and beautiful heart. For God already delights in your work. Let your clothes be white at all times, and let not your head lack for oil. See life with the one whom you love all the days of your vaporous life God has given you under the sun, all your vaporous days, for this is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun.
Chiiiirup, our cat chimes in, finding a spot on my chest. His backside is fully atop my keyboard.
I could keep working on paperwork, emails. Often, in these moments, I do. But I’m trying to be more present this summer, less distracted by work. I’m trying to be less clocked in during my clocked out hours.
The cat shoves his face into my cheek, purring. What else is there to do but give him pets? Besides (as you remind me) I don’t get paid enough to lose sleep over leftover tomato plants or lettuces about to bolt. I don’t need to show up early to the event this evening—or even show up at all.
We try to catch him in the act of being cute. Looklooklook! I whisper-yell as you find your phone and swipe over to the camera. He’ll be stretched out on his back, paws akimbo, eyes closed, just begging for a photo. But by the time you line up the shot, he’s up and away, slinking under the bed.
I swear he does this on purpose, you say, laughing. I’m used to other cats who are less camera-shy, and wish for at least one good picture to send to friends and family. But not all moments need to be immortalised. Besides, unlike the other cats, this one lives with us. There will be plenty of opportunities.
It’s a new development, and one we’re still adjusting to, but it seems like you are just as delighted as I am about our new roommate. I’ve been nervous that you wouldn’t like him, that changing up our household for a long-held wish of mine would be detrimental to our life together. But you love him too. I love that about you, I say.
And what’s not to love? He’s quiet, and silly, and adept at bringing me back into the moment when I’m spiraling about work. He won’t sit on my lap, but he will lie on my chest, rendering all attempts to multitask impossible. He won’t curl up next to us on the couch, but he will put his face into our houseplant—he never nibbles on it, but he likes the smell? The feeling of it on his whiskers? The overwhelming greenery of it all?
All that your hand finds to do with your strength, do, Qoheleth writes, for there is no work or explanation or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.
Mary Oliver asks, Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?
Today, you entice our cat into chasing a laser pointer around the apartment. We laugh as he skids around a corner and arches his back, affecting affront. We try to convince him to use his scratching toys, but he’d rather use the rug. Eventually, we find our way to the bed, brushing him until he falls asleep.
We have to remind ourselves to get ready for bed, instead of cooing over the cat for another hour.
What remains for humans from all their toil at which they toil under the sun? Qoheleth asks again and again.
Some days I’m not sure that much remains beyond the growing feeling in the pit of my stomach that I’ve failed. That I’ve let my work worries take precedence over you or our life together or my many other sources of joy. That I’ve once again agreed to the terms and conditions of capitalism.
What does he dream about, do you think? I ask, captivated by cat-snores.
Jack Kamps (’16) has been paid to do many things, such as teach preschoolers, pastor youths, schlep things in warehouses, bake pastries, design curriculum, serve coffee, maintain gardens, and fix computers. Jack is currently a student at Princeton Theological Seminary—though they tend to spend more time working at a few local farms, plotting a future cheesecake business with their spouse, and listening to/talking about the latest Material Girls episode than doing their homework.
