Blog 607 – 04.19.2017

The Spirit Of the Wolf

The First People, Native Americans, incorrectly identified as Indians by Columbus who like most men had not only trouble asking for directions but also admitting when he made a mistake, were not the pagans, heathen, faithless people that the Christian missionaries thought they were. Just like the “Christian missionaries” have not always been the loving, compassionate, examples of Christ they profess to be. I see a post on Social Media from time to time that says something like, “Isn’t it amazing that often people who have beards, tattoos, and ride motor cycles are the kindest most compassionate folks while people who attend church are often the most judging and condemning. Imagine that.”

The First People saw the spirit in people and things. To them earth is Mother God and the skies or heavens are Father God, and every rock, and tree and creature has a spirit has a name. To them the animals are spirit guides to teach us about ourselves. I have given some thought to the spirit of the wolf. There is affinity there for sure between mankind and wolves. The first “wild” animals to be “domesticated” were wolves. Today we call them dogs and they love us, protect us, and work for us. They work for the scraps from our hands but mostly for our affection in a kind word and a pat or pet. Someone has said every time you pet a dog you lengthen your life. I may make that 115 year target that I have in mind for I seize every opportunity I can to pet every dog I meet. Children love dogs and dogs love children. There are so many tender love stories involving heroic and loyal dogs. I just saw the preview for yet another war dog story about a young military woman’s fight to rescue her canine partner. It looks good and I cannot wait to see it.

We see ourselves in animals and especially in wolves. Wolves are pack animals so are we. The lone wolf is a misnomer. Wolves are alive, survive, and thrive, in relationship as do we. I was inspired by the painting of the Wolf reflecting one of the First People princesses that I post with this piece. The Scouting Program borrows heavily from the First People’s wood craft and knowledge of the natural world. All that is on the outside is a mirror of what is on the inside. What we see in the world is what we believe about ourselves.

The First People look long and hard at animals and identified their spirits, their higher and best attributes. When you see the highest and best in someone or thing you see them or it for what it truly is and you learn something about yourself for as much as ego would have us deny it we are one with our surroundings, our world, our universe. Any sin against our brother or nature is a sin against ourself. When we misuse mother earth or pollute and darken father sky we hurt ourselves and all our brothers. The cry of the wolf is the call of the wild and the free. The spirit of man was no more meant to live in a box that the wolf was intended to be caged or kept on a leash. Our hearts were meant to soar as an eagle to howl as a wolf and to enjoy the earth and the sky.

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David White