There’s a certain magic that descends upon the Canadian wilderness during the summer months. The air is thick with the scent of pine, the lake shimmers in the twilight, and the haunting calls of loons echo across the water. It’s a place where the line between reality and the mystical blurs, and where the unexpected becomes the norm.

One summer evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon and cast a golden glow over the tranquil lake, my friends and I found ourselves in a small boat. We were anchored in the middle of the water, surrounded by the hush of the forest. It was one of those great nights on the lake, filled with laughter, stories, and connection.

Our lake is called Wolf Lake and once in a blue moon stories of the wolves making themselves known are shared amongst the cottagers. My hubby has been going every summer to his cottage for 39 years and he has heard them once. 

As darkness descended and the stars began to twinkle above, I called out to the wolves. Taking a shot in the dark to summon the guardians of the night…

Cupping our hands around our mouths, we all let out long, echoing howls into the wilderness. The sound carried across the still water, disappearing into the depths of the forest.

For a while, our calls were met with nothing but silence. We exchanged knowing glances, half expecting our attempts to be in vain. 

And then… 

From the darkness of the forest, a response echoed back to us. It was a chorus of haunting, primal calls that sent shivers down our spines. We strained our ears, trying to decipher the source of the sound. It sounded like wolves. Could it really be? We all debated. Maybe it’s other people, maybe it’s coyotes, maybe it’s BigFoot.

Our boat rocked gently on the water, and a sense of awe washed over us. We had called out, and something had answered—a reminder that the wild still held secrets beyond our understanding.

In that moment, I couldn’t help but reflect on the profound lesson this night had taught me. Sometimes, in life, we find ourselves in situations where we’re not quite sure what to do or where to turn. We hesitate to ask for what we need, fearing rejection or disappointment. But this night on the lake was a testament to the power of reaching out, of calling out into the unknown.

I may not always receive exactly what I expect, and the answers may come from unexpected sources. But if I never ask, if I never call out, I’ll never know what might be waiting for me just beyond the darkness.

So, here’s to calling out to the wolves in our lives—those moments when we take a chance, ask for what we need, and let the universe respond in its own mysterious way. It may not always be what we think we want, but sometimes, it’s exactly what we need.

As we motored back to shore that night, the calls of the wolves faded into the distance, but the memory of that magical encounter stayed with us. I had asked, and something had answered—a reminder that in the wilderness of life, there’s a world of wonder waiting to respond to our calls.

Forever Howling,

Ashley