The Path

  The path forward was a mystery. Lit only by the sun’s light reflecting off a fully present moon, framed by stars glistening in the evening sky. 

My thoughts are cloudy as overgrown grass encroaches my path, giving off a most curious sweet and sour scent of a recent passing rain shower. 

I wonder which way to turn or even if a turn is possible? I reach down to touch the sand, feeling its coarseness. The sand is warm from the last of the day’s sunlight. The sand holds no answers for me.

In the distance I hear a howling, maybe a coyote? No, the pitch is too low, there is too much growl in it. Ah, is it a wolf out roaming the woodlands on this effervescent evening? Is she on this same path? Is she a lost soul like me looking for guidance? Looking for purpose? Or maybe she’s just searching for an easy meal?

The howling is growing closer, I can feel a great presence. I hear a rustling movement on the path just behind me. A howl explodes in my ears. Every cell is my body is telling me to run, but do I run or turn and face my fear? 

The wolf is close, too close to run away. I turn and there is an enormous grey wolf just feet from me. She is a giant, over 5 feet long with a large broad snout and paws the size of baseball mitts. Her thick grey and black fur glistens in the moonlight. Her rounded perked ears take in the surroundings. She has piercing yellow and cloudy black eyes that look right through me. Hungry drool runs down her long sharp white fangs. A low grow emits from her jaws, the wolf leaps, her huge paws hitting my shoulders knocking me to the ground. The wolf is on top of me. I lay motionless as the wolf pins me to the ground. Her long stout muzzle is just inches from my face. She is so close that I feel her whiskers on my cheeks. She opens her mouth wide, drool falling on my forehead. I smell her breath and I am surprised by its sweetness. My heart is racing and is close to exploding as she raises her huge head. The giant beast belts out the loudest most fearful howl I have ever heard. I feel that I’m in deep trouble.

She then looks down at me. Her now golden soft eyes piercing my own eyes, my soul. The night becomes perfectly still, perfectly quiet. The full moon illuminates her fangs touching my hair. 

It was at this moment that I clearly saw my life. How fear and distrust have become my ever-present shadows. The wolf’s howl just inches from my head reaches deep inside me, shattering the darkest corners of my shadow.

As the giant wolf continues her gaze, she moves her mouth even closer to my face, her whiskers tickling my nose. All fear suddenly vanishes as she gently nuzzles my face. I am overcome with a deep sense of gratitude for my life, a celebration for my short presence on this earth. I see a path forward for my life. 

I feel a warm touch on my face, her big tongue licking my entire face from mouth to forehead. A baptism in the celebration of my life’s new path. 

The wolf leaps off me, I feel lite and free. I stand up and look down at the path still illuminated by the full moon. I hear a soft howl in the distance and deep in my spirit.