Which role in the pack do you fulfill?
I got an intriguing glimpse into two different cultures (both the wolf culture and the Eskimo culture) as I reread the Newberry Award classic of 1974 by Jean Craighead George, titled Julie of the Wolves.
I’d be interested to know where you would find yourself in them!
This is a moving novel of a 13 year old girl’s courage and her will to survive on the North Slope of Alaska. She is alone, except for a pack of Arctic wolves, into whose company she is slowly accepted and whom she comes to love as though they were her brothers.
She observes and then learns their methods of communication. She revels in their different personalities and notices the different roles they play in the pack.
What this young adult novel exemplified for me was the quote attributed to Rudyard Kipling that
“the strength of the wolf is the pack,
and the strength of the pack is the wolf.”
The following guiding principles are articulated by the well-known wolf and dog pack expert, Del Goetz:
Wolf Credo
Respect the elders
Cooperate with the pack
Play when you can
Hunt when you must
Rest in between
Share your affections
Voice your feelings
Leave your mark
(Does this remind you a bit of Everything I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten?)
Everyone does not strive to be the leader in the wolf pack. Some are consummate hunters or caregivers or jokesters, but each seems to gravitate to the role he does best. And the pack is the better for it.
I also learned of a book entitled Wisdom of Wolves:Na
ture’s Way to Organizational Success by Tyman Towery that applies the organization of the wolf pack and the roles of each pack member to lessons for those who work in groups, organizations, communities.
It explains some of the crucial elements of any successful organization, such as teamwork, communication, perseverance and attitude. It uses the wisdom of the wolves to exemplify how best to utilize the talents of each member.
As we look at ourselves…
(in our families, in our workplaces, in our organizations, and in our churches)
we can be reminded to base our actions on the questions,
“What is best for our pack?”
“What is our role?”
“What is our best way to communicate?”
And since variety is the spice of life, we know we are each blessed with a variety of skills, aptitudes, styles, opportunities, gifts!
It’s what makes our life together so very fascinating!
So what lessons have you learned from your “pack” experiences?
4 Comments
I have had lots of time “in the pack” during my life. There are always the biggest, or fastest, or best, or most noticed, or the leader. But the member I most notice is one who quietly encourages, teaches, and “wins” when another member of the pack gets the notice or award or is the winner. There are many roles to play in the pack but the one who quietly holds the pack together is the one most needed. I have met several of those quiet members in my lifetime and it is those pack members that I remember the most.
Earl, You exemplified that quiet pack member while at CBFR and were instrumental in the success of many an agent! Thank you for all you did as a teacher and encourager!
I wrote down the Wolf Credo and stuck it on my fridge! I need to remember to play more and hunt when I must (work less). When I think of leaving my mark the way a wolf does, it makes me laugh. What does it mean to our daily lives? Arts & crafts? Gardening?
April, In tune with “less is more,” I think the Wolf Credo reminds us to simplify. And I think we make our mark whenever we reach out to someone or do something that makes us feel good (like arts and crafts and gardening!)