I am afraid of dogs. It is beyond my control. When I see a dog I instantly think it is going to bite me. Many of you have told me what to do if I encounter a dog while walking. One thing I have learned is not to look a dog in the eye. Something I use to do, better to look a dog in the eye then have it attack you behind your back. But since many of you told me not to look a dog in the eye, I turn my head or better yet look at the ground. Most the dogs I see are behind gates, barking louder than an alarm system. Behind a gate they still freak me out.
Yesterday while out walking I saw two big dogs on the road ahead of me. Two dogs without anyone around. They were roaming the street unattended. I slowly turned around and walked the other way, I keep my eyes to the ground, put my hands in my pocket, and prayed, "Okay anyone who is praying for me, and please let there be several hundred or so, and you too God, do not let these dogs bite me. Help me to remain calm, because I want to run and scream and jump over a fence."
I heard them as they ran towards me. I could sense fear putting itself on me thick and juicy, bright and loud, with a neon sign, "Bite Me! I am terrified!"
My prayers became serious as I centered down.
The black colored dog walked along one side and the beige colored dog walked along the other side of me. Ying and yang. Noticing that I recalled that in dream language dogs can be seen as a symbol of spiritual guidance, faithfulness, truth, loyalty... I imagined that I was dreaming, that the dogs were guiding me through my fear.
It seemed to calm my nerves so I stayed with it.
The dogs did not bark, the three of us walked for about a mile together. Their tails wagged, and for an instant I thought they were sweet and probably were lost. But then I thought they might be hungry, and so I had to pretend this was a dream so I wouldn't freak out. I slowly took out my phone and snapped some photos to prove to you that they really did exist.
Then just like that they went the other way.
Instead of dancing with wolves,
I was dreaming with dogs,
Sacred and scary,
I think I will walk with them whenever I am scared... healing in mysterious ways.
