Dexter's Lesson

I sit in the garden, watching Dexter climb in and out of the old dried out plants with not a care in his world. Maybe he heard the rustle of a field mouse and decided to explore. I would be too scared – it could be a spider or even worse, a snake!

He climbs over the old tree stump which is kept together only by the disintegrating outer bark. The inside of the stump is just a powder of broken-down bark and tree dust. Sad. This dust used to be the core of the tree.

Could this be a symbol of what I am now, as I sit in this garden, full of despair?

Is this the platform from which I must launch myself to embark on the journey of finding my ‘Authentic Self”, my Inner Child, - my ‘Mini Me’?

Dexter has moved onto another part of the garden now, still looking, still investigating. I wonder what he has found?

He struts off to another part of the garden, lies down to rest and basks in the rays of the sun. He lies a while and then he is off again, leaving the old stump and the dried out plants and wanders to another part of the garden, the part of the garden where the grass is green and plants survive.

He comes bounding back and lies down beside me, his story told.

Is this his lesson?
Is this why this little dog came so inexplicably into my life?

What if I am that old decrepit wasted tree stump? My core in tatters, like dust.

Old bark holding the ashes of my core together. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

The time has come. I must transform myself and let the Phoenix rise again.

Dexter moves onto another part of the garden, still looking, still investigating.
I wonder what he has found?

Has he found the secret to life and has he, in his own little way, played out this scene to show me what it is all about.?

Pam
7th August 2005

Poem to Dexter

You came into our lives one day
Enriching our lives like never before
You were only three weeks old
Found discarded in a rubbish bin

We didn’t think you’d make it
But you proved us all wrong
Your strong spirit prevailed
As you wove your way into our lives

At first you looked like a tiny bat
On that dark, wet, freezing cold day
Your life blood flowed
And you grew stronger day by day

Your playful antics keep us on our toes
You are a little dog who gives us your all
We love you little Dexter
You are the epitome of Joy


Pam
March 2005