Wolves
Laura Griffin’s article about wolves in the January 2026 edition of High Country News brought back a vivid memory for me.
One Friday morning I was shuffling aimlessly about our mobile home in Nordegg in my bedroom slippers and housecoat. No task urgently needed my attention, so I ambled into the office and gazed out the window overlooking the golf course.
I noticed a flash of movement. It riveted my attention. I was used to deer browsing, ambling or occasionally bounding, but this creature ran fast and low. It was a wolf. It sped to the far side of the golf course, sat up straight on a knoll and gazed intently back towards the swamp. I noticed two other wolves lying curled up in the snow just below him. The first wolf (I’ll call him ‘Scout’) got up onto his feet and began pacing back and forth; his gaze never left the swamp. From time to time the other two wolves wandered into the trees. (I’ll call them ‘Pups’ because they seemed playful and subservient to Scout.) They kept returning to touch noses with Scout and curled up to rest again.
I was mesmerized and watched the wolves for hours that morning.
Two or three times Scout loped easily across to the swamp, returned and touched noses with the Pups. Each time, he seemed to be coming back with messages about his ‘sortie’ and delivering them to his waiting companions. Every action was calculated, purposeful.
I puttered in the office all morning, but my attention was captivated by the cooperative teamwork of these wild wolves; I did not want to miss a move.
Once, when Scout left to check out the situation in the swamp, the Pups snarled and snapped at each other. They tussled in the snow, and I thought they would fight as they snapped at each other. One dominated the other but the one underneath rolled playfully onto his back and pushed on the other’s chest with his fore paws.
When Scout returned with another one of his messages, his tail was raised. The Pups stopped roughhousing, kept their tails lowered and paid attention to their elder. Their relationship was one of easy companionship, mutual respect and each wolf seemed to know his place and responsibility.
Then, a fourth wolf (I’ll call him ‘Leader’) bounded in from the swamp and touched noses with Scout. The Pups had been dozing but were immediately on their feet and alert. Suddenly, all four wolves sprang into action at the same time. They ran across the snowy open ground towards the swamp. Leader peeled off through the forest, the Pups circled round to the swamp in the other direction, and Scout went straight across the golf course to the swamp.
I imagined them working as a team to isolate one elk from the herd. I listened all day for the raucous voices of the crows and magpies that accompany a kill, but all was quiet. Perhaps their well-coordinated plan did not succeed this time.
Sometimes my well-thought out plan does not succeed either. I doubt if the wolves I watched gave up trying to get an elk for supper just because this attempt failed. Since they are team-players, they would suffer the disappointment together and move on with their lives. At times I have been a ‘lone wolf ’. Laura reminds me to send out a ‘howl’ and stay with my ‘pack’.
Scout knew when he should take the lead. Do I take the initiative when it is time for me to lead?
Scout also knew when it was his turn to follow direction from Leader. Do I know when to let another take the lead?
The Pups knew when to rest and when to play. Am I wise enough to take a ‘power nap’ or do something ‘just for fun’ when the opportunity arises?
The time I ‘wasted’ staring at the activity of wolves that Friday morning was not wasted at all! They reminded me to be a team player, know my place in society, work hard at the task before me, take rests and play.
I can always ask God for wisdom about how I spend my time because He generously gives wisdom to everyone who asks.1
by Andrea Kidd
If you enjoy my High Country News submissions, please see my substack for more: andreakidd.substack.com
1 See James 1:5
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