Silhouette of Wolf

Several times on my journey, I have looked out in the expanse of Creation’s Bible to see a silhouette of Wolf. Twice, while passionately engrossed in teaching, where I had burrowed in, Solitude’s call began simmering.

Just when I thought I had found my life long vocation in a community; Wolf caught my eye, inviting me to the next step of an ongoing pioneering cycle. Wolf blazed the trail to fulfilling interaction and guided me back around to the profundity of separateness.

Wise ones warned me of the dangers of isolating. Each time that I pondered the risks, the call of nuzzling close to Pathfinder Wolf, grew stronger.

Though misunderstood as vicious loners, wolves seem to know the value of community and individuation equally. They not only mate for life, but also contribute to the well-being of the pack.

Seasoned wolves care for their young and then often send adolescent ones out alone to learn survival skills. Wolves know the essential balance between organization and freedom.

Following suit, we are more likely to discover True Self, if we spend attentive time with others and self, balancing structure and freedom. Social Wolf reveals the worth of nurturing family and giving back to community. Wild Wolf points to a unique path for the individual. Territorial Wolf models setting appropriate boundaries with a warning growl.

Although wolves exert enormous energy in the hunt for food, they rarely kill for sport. Wolves frequently face starvation. They know the grief of watching pack members die, as they do not typically live long lives.

It seems that there is much we can learn from Teacher Wolf. While physically confronting wild animals may not be necessary, allowing nature to awaken us can gently pull us out of our heads, offering an experiential dimension to our spirituality.  Silhouette of wolf asked me to consider paradoxes within Creation’s Bible: sacredness of community and solitude, social structure and freedom from.

Sacred Ruminations*