There once was a fearsome dog that lived by the road that led to a village. The dog made the lives of the villagers miserable, if you happened to cross its path, you were sure to feel the strength of its teeth. There was no one coming or going, no trade and no playing, only fear. I am in control thought the dog to itself.
This went on for a while and the villagers grew tired and desperate.
And so one day they went to the head of the village and said: this cannot go on, something must be done or else!
The head of the village summoned the dog for a private and important meeting. After long discussions the dog agreed to stop its offensive behaviour.
As time passed, the villagers grew more and more confident and started cursing the dog and the dog remained faithful to its word and did nothing. The village children started throwing stones at the dog and the dog remained faithful to its word and did nothing. The more confident the villagers grew, the more pain they inflicted on the dog and the dog remained faithful to its word and did nothing.
So confident the villagers grew that the dog now feared for its life. Limping, bleeding and in pain the dog went to the head of the village and said: I did what you asked me to and look at me now, bruised and beaten. Yet, I remained faithful to my word and did nothing.
The head of the village looked at the dog gravely and said: I told you to stop biting, I did not tell you to stop barking.
This is a paraphrased version of a tale I was told a while ago. I use it as a reminder that as we go through changes in life not to give up all our defences.
