Wolves Within

(by Carl Weidemeyer, 1911)

Although dogs are said to be people’s best friends, wolves are said to be big and bad.  Yet there is an genetic wolf within each and every dog, and a metaphorical wolf within each and every person.

Last month, two stray canines went on a rampage at a Houston car dealership, causing approximately $350,000 worth of damage.  An employee theorized that “only a wolf would be capable” of such behavior.  The video footage instead showed dogs.

Hungry pups or peeps will sometimes become desperate.  Hunger for food and/or love can yield sorry results.  Who let these dogs out?  Were they abandoned pets, or had they spent entire lives scrounging? What would it take to turn them around?

There’s a famous story about Saint Francis and the wolf of Gubbio.  This hungry wolf had been terrorizing Gubbio’s people and animals.  Saint Francis approached it with holy love.  Empathizing with the wolf’s hunger, Francis arranged for Gubbio’s people to feed it regularly if it would henceforth stop the attacks.  It is said that “the wolf placed his paw in Francis’ hand in agreement” and remained docile from then on.

Resources

https://www.wordonfire.org/articles/st-francis-and-the-wolf-of-gubbio/