During my early career, I worked as a network television publicist for a leading public relations firm in New York city. My job was to land television show bookings for my clients, and come up with story ideas for clients to ‘pitch’ to show producers.
9-lives catfood was one of my many clients, you might be familiar with the once wildly famous advertising mascot, ‘Morris the Cat’. We landed Morris on both Entertainment Tonight and The Merv Griffin Show which meant I had to fly out from New York to Beverly Hills to meet Morris’ owner, an overly serious kind of fellow, and Morris himself. My job was to escort them to the Merv Griffin show, and then ride along with them in a limousine for videotaping a tour of Hollywood for Entertainment Tonight.
As I rode in the limousine, with a poised Morris propped up in the back seat like an Egyptian king, with this king of cats and his uptight owner, I not only felt lonely and sad, I felt ashamed. What had my life come to? Of course, as a worldly young woman, intelligent enough, surely something more awaited me than this absurdity?
The only redeeming quality of the trip was when Morris yawned when Merv asked him how he was doing, and that I stayed at the Chateau Marmot on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, the famous hotel frequented by stars like Erroll Flynn, Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe, and authors like F. Scott Fitzgerald and Hunter S. Thompson. (I read somewhere Led Zeppelin rode their motorbikes through the lobby with crowds cheering them on). On a less than glamorous note, sadly, John Belushi overdosed on heroin in one of the Chateau’s bungalows.
When I returned to New York, realizing the ultimate vapidity of my job, the ridiculousness of what the world calls glamour, my spiritual search for meaning started in earnest. But it was years of searching in dead end roads, of career changes and promotions, and even marriage and motherhood, before I understood it was Christ I needed most, and that in Christ, I would finally die to myself.
“It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”- Galatians 2:20
Little did I know that in Christ, in the light of God, my empty worldly yearnings, my loneliness, my deep rooted flaws and the dull ache of my unfulfilled self would undergo a transformation, that I would be born a new person.
“Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit!” – Ezekial 18:31
“Be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”- Ephesians 4:23
Who would know the mere shadow of my true self sitting long ago with Morris the Cat and his curmudgeonous owner in the limousine touring Hollywood, and then alone and discontent in the Chateau Marmot, the boutique hotel reserved for the stars, would go on to have nine careers, get married and have a child. But most important, who would have guessed she would be graced by God, born anew into a life rich with meaning, an extra-ordinary life in the shining light of God. I’d surely would never have guessed!
“For whoever would save his life will lose it.” Mark 8:25
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2Corinthians 5:17
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3
“We all with unveiled face, beholding and reflecting like a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord Spirit.” 2Corinthians 3:18
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I love getting a glimpse into your past and rejoice with you in how He has made all things new and has filled the emptiness that only He can fill! Bless you, friend!
Hi precious Karrilee, yes, God’s grace is amazing!
Visiting here today from A Field of Flowers – so glad I stopped by! Enjoyed reading this tonight and what rich scripture you’ve shared!
thanks for coming by and glad the scripture spoke to you Melody!
Oh my word, I LOVED reading about your past Kathy! WOW. What a life you led, my friend! This testimony was just breathtaking. I’m so glad you shared your history and ultimate victory in finding the love of our Savior and I’m especially moved by your transformation through Him.
Morris the cat? Hollywood? Entertainment Tonight? Merv Griffin show? Beverly Hills? Just too cool. My fleshy side is star struck! LOL
I’m so glad you discovered true worth in Christ, and I’m celebrating His beautiful purpose in you through your gift of words, my dear friend. You are such a inspiration to me!
Hi Kathy! Like Chris, I was taken in by your past job, the perks of a limo and being backstage at famous TV shows. It’s allure wore off for you, and I suppose it would for me too, but when I was reading it, I was a total fan!
God uses everything to bring us to him, so I why would Morris the Cat be excluded? What a hoot that he yawned to Merv! Even he was bored, right?
You moved on to do so many different things, and now are open to the spirit. The difference must be jarring when you think back on it.
I wonder what you would tell your ‘younger self’ today? Do you think YS would listen?
Blessings,
Ceil
Kathy, I could relate to a lot of this. I worked in a public relations firm and one of my clients was a pharmaceutical company promoting the latest diet pill. It was a ride of a promotional tour let me tell you. Seems like a lifetime ago. I’m so pleased with all Jesus has done with me since then!!
I can imagine Traci what your campaigns were like! It is like another lifetime! Thankfully!!
I definitely remember Morris the Cat. 🙂 Love this: “But most important, who would have guessed she would be graced by God, born anew into a life rich with meaning, an extra-ordinary life in the shining light of God. I’d surely would never have guessed!” Amen. We can never overestimate what God can do!
love you remember Morris Lisa! Isn’t grace just amazing how it changes us!
I love a good God story! Thanks for sharing yours. 🙂
thanks Lyll!!