Befriending the Lion

 Last night I dreamed that Tyler and I were visited by a lion.  In the dream we are living in our second apartment we rented decades ago, an apartment I liked very much.  In the dream I open the door and in walked a male lion with a full mane. He evidently had been waiting patiently for me to open the door. Yes, I was startled. He went directly to Tyler who was sitting at his computer in a room down the hall. The lion, despite his size,  jumped on his shoulders, not as a fierce predator, but  like a house cat wanting some attention.  The dream was actually very quiet. There was no screaming or roaring.  The lion moved beautifully with ease and purpose, and no hesitation whatsoever.  He knew why he was there. 

In June of 2019 I dreamed of a lion that was following me as I walked my dog along a path. In that dream I am terrified, but the lion simply followed us.  No, I never did grow comfortable with that lion's presence. Today, I feel gratitude that the lion has surfaced once more. What is his message?  Well, I was so surprised, I forgot to ask. I think it takes a while to become accustomed to a lion in one's life. What was particularly startling about my 2019 dream is that the following morning an image of Rousseau's "Sleeping Gypsy" surfaced  in my Facebook feed.  I have always loved this painting. I include my reflection from  2019. I had forgotten about the playful fawns darting in and out of the tall grass. Because I am no longer worrying about them, I can simply enjoy their playful presence on the journey.      

Today Tyler and I are stepping away and taking Jack for a walk.  It really is time to open the door. 

 

Last night I dreamed: 

A lion was walking 

along a dirt road 

that ran along a freeway.  

I wanted to walk that 

path but I was full of fear 

for myself, 

my dog, 

and the small fawns 

darting in and out 

of the bushes

in play. 

I thought, 

"Surely this lion 

is from a zoo. 

We do not have lions 

like this around here."

 

So afraid! 

Yet, he never roared 

and he never chased. 

He simply continued to walk 

that dusty path 

which I suddenly 

could not trust.   

  

This morning, 

when I had forgotten 

the dream, 

this image came. 

 

I must learn to trust 

the lion,

 the art, 

the dream;

most of all 

the dusty road 

where one meets 

Christ

 in all sorts of guises 

trying to nudge us

awake.       

    

image:  Wikiart