I read a passage in a book yesterday about how pain that doesn't seem to have a solution can often be seen as a dragon that one is fighting. As soon as I read this, I remembered that my own symbol of the angelic presence that accompanies me is a dragon - a large, don't-mess-with-me dragon named Frederick. I haven't thought about Fred for a while. He's not an enemy to be fought, but an ally who watches my back. I wonder if the pain that I have been unable to resolve could be seen like I see Fred - an ally - a good thing? I wonder if I can feel the pain with the same warmth that I feel when I sense Fred at my back? I've never felt comfortable with the "enemy" mind-set when it comes to health. In my experience, the times when we move into love and acceptance instead of aversion and avoidance are the times we are most likely to find the release we'd hoped for. So, here's to Fred.