Dog or Wolf?
By Lexi Cole Ellis
Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great
and hidden things that you have not known.
Jeremiah 33:3 (ESV)
We
watched a fascinating documentary called “Dogs Decoded.” [1] In it, scientists tested to see if
the social-cognitive differences in dogs and wolves were genetic or
experimental (nature or nurture). Both wolf and dog pups were raised by humans:
fed by humans, close contact with humans and socialized with unknown humans. If
the wolf pups ended up showing dog-like traits, then domestication was affected
by nurture.
Food was
set out but the pathway was completely “inaccessible to the animals; human help
would be required to access it.” At first, all the pups tried to get to the
food on their own. But by minute two, the dogs “began to look towards the
humans. This increased over time and by the fourth minute there was a
statistical difference…Not only did the wolf pups not spontaneously initiate
eye contact…but they also failed to learn that eye contact was the key to
solving their problem.” The experiment concluded that: “Even after being raised by humans, wolves
simply do not see humans as potential social partners. The dogs, however, quite
rapidly took a social approach to solve each problem they were given.” [2]
It
makes me wonder: am I like the wolf pup or the dog pup? When I see that “food” - - my dreams and hopes, my needs - - am I
willing to initiate eye contact with my Master? Or do I continue to try on my
own in vain, never willing to ask for help…even from the One who has provided
for and loved me? Whatever the situation, trial, hardship or struggle I’m facing,
am I choosing to act like the wolf or the dog? Do I learn quickly that I should
make eye contact with God- - spend time in His Word, pray, ask His Spirit for
guidance - - or do I continually try on my own, refusing to ask for help?
Have I
built a habit of going to God in prayer first regarding the things that are
next in my life? Do I make spending time in His Word a priority in a life where
there is often noise and busyness? If I’m honest, I find myself more like the
wolf, working towards the things I want…in the way I want. But in
the end, it’s not very rewarding. May we be those who initiate eye contact,
turning to our Master as we pursue the things we most need.
GOING
DEEPER:
1.
Identify a situation in your life where you can be more like the
dog pup.
2.
What do you need to do to depend on God more?
FURTHER
READING:
Lexi and her husband,
Andrew, have an adorable dog named Calvin. Lexi teaches sixth grade Reading and
Writing. She serves with Children’s Ministries and is the Fresh Start
Coordinator.
[1] Dogs
Decoded, aired July 3, 2013 on PBS. You can watch this documentary on Netflix.
[2]
Goldman, Jason G. Dog, But Not Wolves, Use
Humans As Tools, 30 April, 2012, Scientific American, http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/thoughtful-animal/dogs-but-not-wolves-use-humans-as-tools/
