Howling Of Huskies
Sled dogs. They are fascinating animals. They absolutely love pulling sleds. Even in the summer, sled dogs have this driving desire to pull something. And they need the daily workout. Since the snow is gone, Husky trainers exercise them by harnessing the dogs to a UTV. Last week, Linda and I were at a kennel outside of Wasilla, Alaska and witnessed it.
When the trainer pulled up to the dog village (75 or so dogs at this outdoor kennel), the noise of excited barking drowned out our conversations. The trainer selects a dozen or so dogs for each mush excursion, based on a revolving schedule. The dogs were all hopeful that they would be taken out.
The most interesting part of our experience came when the trainer began unleashing dogs, one by one, and harnessing them to his towline. As the musher made selections, the high volume of barking lowered to complete silence. They all stared at him, waiting to see if they would be chosen. When the last dog was hooked up and the team pulled away, the silence morphed into ominous howling. Only now, they howled because they were sad. All of the dogs are mushed once a day, but they are still crushed every other time a team goes out without them.
These dogs were all bred to mush, born to mush, and trained to mush. They live to mush. It’s in their system, their nature, to hear and obey commands from their master, and to work together as a team to pull a heavy load to a destination. They are driven to do this, and they howl in defeat when they cannot fulfill their life’s purpose.
As Linda and I stood listening to the howling of these animals, I said, “I also hear people howling all around us. At least for these dogs, they know what they were born to do. But few people do.”
People were created by God on purpose and for a purpose. We were made in the image of God to reflect, love, obey, and enjoy our Maker. And when that is not happening, there is an emptiness, a longing, and a yearning for an existence that matters. And the howling is all around us; cries for a life of significance. The feelings of being left behind come out in anger, depression, violence, and pleasure-seeking.
Yes, the howling is all around us. The only way the emptiness of souls will be fulfilled is by being tethered to the Master’s towline, where we can once again be and do what we were created to.
“You have created all things, and for your pleasure they are and were created…” (Revelation 4:11).