Dum felis dormit, mus gaudet et exsi litantro
The Latin phrase *“Dum felis dormit, mus gaudet et exsi litantro,”* written by Wolfgang Mieder in 2008 in his book *Proverbs Speak Louder than Words*, translates to, "When the cat falls asleep, the mouse rejoices and leaps from the hole." This saying, which dates back to the 14th century, is better known today in the modern form, *“When the cat’s away, the mice will play.”*
I think this simple, yet insightful, proverb aptly illustrates the warning found in Hebrews 2:1. The "cat" in this analogy represents the Word of God, and the "mouse" represents our flesh. When we distance ourselves from God’s voice, the temptation of sin (the "mouse") becomes harder to control. The further we stray from Scripture (the "cat"), the more we allow the "rat" of our sinful nature to take charge.
As we go through our daily lives, we encounter numerous voices—some wise, others harmful—and it is crucial that we keep our focus fixed on God’s Word. We often overestimate our ability to guard our hearts and minds on our own, forgetting how easily we can fall prey to the "mice" lurking within us.
The Apostle Paul was keenly aware of this struggle. In Romans 7:18-19, he openly acknowledged the battle with sin that he, too, faced even after his conversion. He understood that sin never fully leaves, always waiting for an opportunity to pounce.
This reminds me of the wisdom in Psalm 1:1-2:
*Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.*
The rats are always there. If we want to guard against them and live victorious lives, we must find our joy in meditating on God's Word continually—day and night. Our peace and spiritual well-being depend on this commitment. After all, life truly is a game of cat and mouse.