AMERICAN RED WOLF
Three Movements of Prayer
Movements of Welcome
Linger awhile to cast your loving gaze and curious mind on the photos above of our more-than-human kinfolk.
Humans and wolves share 84% of the same DNA.
Allow yourself to become aware of and experience your mutual connectedness in the unfolding mystery of life.
There are between 15 and 25 red wolves left in the wild, primarily in the five-county area of North Carolina's Albemarle Peninsula.
Express gratitude for this other being’s existence and their vital place in Earth’s balanced biosphere.
The survival rate for red wolf pups is low, with under 50% reaching adulthood.
Movements of Lament
Consider the specific challenges and threats this creature now faces. Allow yourself to feel your feelings.
Red wolves are often mistaken for coyotes
and shot.
Feel what some call "the great sadness." Open to the grief this creature faces, and imagine a time when this, your kinfolk, is extinct. Lament their absence and acknowledge any contribution you may have knowingly or unknowingly made.
Traffic accidents are a leading cause of death. Five red wolf pups recently died after their father was killed by a vehicle on I-64. A 2-year-old female red wolf named Chance gave birth to the pups with her breeding partner. Red wolves are monogamous and mate for life, and both parents participate in caring for their pups. After the death of her partner, Chance was unable to feed and care for her pups by herself as a first-time, single mother.
Risk becoming emotionally engaged as you now send your prayers and your compassionate protection to the individuals and communities of this fellow-creature.
Movements of Response
Hold up your fellow humans and the organizations that are serving these dear and vulnerable populations.
Name any further responses or actions that may be surfacing from this time of contemplation and prayer.
As you finish, take a final look at one of the photos of this dear one for whom you’ve prayed. Carry the image in your heart as you return to our shared life in our shared home.
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