A story about a street dog
If I told you that one of the most influential spiritual leaders of this time, Eckhart Tolle, call dogs our “Guardians of Being” – would you believe me?
It probably really depends on which image of dogs you grew up with. What you experienced with these four legged creatures, or what you were taught about them. If I generalise, I know that dogs are much lower in the community hierarchy in Rwanda – the country where I live now, compared to where I’m from.
The last few weeks have made me think about dogs much more than I ever did. And it seems to be influencing my life more than I feel ready to admit. It started about two months ago, when this street dog that I had seen wandering around the neighbourhood for a while, showed up at my gate. The neighbourhood boys called her Suzie.
Now possibly most people would’ve ignored her, or sent her away. Some may have even kicked her to make sure she’d not come back – I had already seen kids throwing stones at her.
But where I grew up, dogs are beloved and respected parts of a family. Do you know the saying “dogs are a man’s best friend”? They are among the most loyal of living beings, and so capable of giving unconditional love. I’ve seen examples of where dogs are saving lives. Whether it’s the officially trained helper dogs for disabled people, dogs which are sent into combat on extremely demanding and important military missions. In Netherlands, children’s hospitals bring in dogs to relieve children’s anxiety and bring a smile on their face for a moment in their journey. Dogs are smart, sensitive, extremely eager to please a person who treats them right. And – what Eckhart Tolle is referring to – extremely able to live in the present moment. A recipe for happiness!
But back to Suzie. No happiness yet. She showed up at my gate. I didn’t send her off; instead I gave her water. In my defence, it was a hot day! And of course, she didn’t want to leave my gate anymore. She refused to go back on the street. So I contacted the Welfare for Animal Group in Kigali, a group of volunteers who socialise and train rescued street dogs so that they can be adopted by loving families. They said to help me train her and put her on the adoption list, but there were no free spaces with so called foster families. So they asked me if I could take care of her as long as needed, until we’d find a forever home for her.
This was 2 months ago. By now, everyone in my home is in love with Suzie. She is making our home even more like a home, despite the pillows and furniture she’s professionally chewing. She is always happy when I come back. Doesn’t blame me for being late, doesn’t judge me by the way I look – gives me pure love and affection. She’s a star in knowing exactly where to fall asleep on my lap and knows how to make me laugh.
In these past 2 months, Ive been more physically active. Walking this dog every day and playing with her in the garden is actually very healthy for someone like me – who’s always behind her desk when I’m not sitting down while talking to people.
I’m starting to understand what Eckhart Tolle means with dogs being our “Guardians of Being”. She takes me out of my head and into the present. Did you know that petting an animal is proven by scientists to be healthy for people? Apparently pets boost our oxytocin levels; this is also known as the “cuddle chemical” – it enhances our social skills, decreases blood pressure and heart rate, boosts our immune function and raises tolerance for pain. It also lowers stress, anger and depression.” Those of you who know me, know how much I like hugging. No wonder the cuddle chemical works so well for me!
Dear readers… you can probably see the dilemma coming from miles away… Since she is bringing so much into my life, I’m starting to wonder if I should actually be the one to adopt her? It would mean, after years of traveling and in that time always having been careful to commit to people and places longer term, I would actually have to commit to staying in Rwanda much longer than I can foresee.
That idea forces me into shooting down more emotional roots into this ground. She makes this place feel like home even more. Or..
if she IS my Guardian of Being – could this maybe exactly be the reason why she ended up at my gate? Food for thought again. Until she gets me back out of my head and reminds me not to worry, but just to enjoy the present moment….
