The word "Coyote" has a number of definitions. There's the Arizona pro
hockey team. There's the evil people who illegally bring people into the US
across our borders often giving them inhuman conditions and treatment during the
journey. There's the Road Runner's nemesis in the cartoon many of us watched
growing up and then, there are the actual, real, non-animated animals. We lived
in Phoenix almost 9 years and so, on occasion we'd see one or two.
This morning I got up early for a 45 minute run before catching a plane
back to Omaha. Jen and I had enjoyed a nice week with our kids there. About
5:20am, just as it got light outside, I headed out the door in the Cactus and
Tatum area. I headed east to a wash that went north/south and headed north. The
wash was widened out to about 100 yds. across. I ran on the far right side and
as I glanced to my left I spied three...no wait, there's another one...four
coyotes. Hold on...there's a fifth one. Cool. I love seeing non-domesticated
animals out in nature.
This wasn't quite "in nature" as it was a fairly populated, residential
area but as the folks in Phoenix know, that doesn't stop these critters. Two
were chasing each other, playing together, they were all basically running north
parallel to me about 50 yds. to my left. Cool again. Running with the coyotes.
They ran a little faster than I did and disappeared behind a bridge I was
running towards. As I went under the street, there they were again continuing
north just a bit ahead of me. (You may be totally bored now and if you are that
too is cool. You can bail anytime.)
But, I've always loved nature and God's amazing creation. I love the
incredible creativity and diversity of all that He's made. So, seeing five
coyotes running along beside me was a treat. As I turned back to retrace the
same route back, they too turned and started going south. Serious? Double cool.
Will they run all the way back with me? They didn't but that's OK. I wondered
where they "lived." I assume they'd been out all night on a scavenger hunt
looking for food and water. They've been known to easily jump over 7 ft. walls
that surround Phoenix homes to drink out of swimming pools and maybe grab small
pets for dinner. Yikes.
I've always felt sorry for the coyotes. They look skinny and thirsty. Gaunt
and lean. Probably over-populated. I'm sure they do some damage and bad things
in areas where folks live, but they're just trying to survive. Here are a few
interesting facts about coyotes:
1 - They hunt in packs
2 - They "sing" to their family members to communicate when apart3 - Both the male and female care for their pups
I try to learn something everyday and as I ran with the coyotes this
morning I wondered what I could learn or what the Lord might want to teach me
through this little, cool encounter. Here's my best shot at it.
*There's strength in numbers. Since coyotes can run in packs, so I was
reminded of how important the positive, encouraging people in my life are to me.
I need to hang with them, run in the pack with them (literally and
figuratively.)
*It's good to "sing" / communicate with your family. In this day of
nano-communication and texting, actually talking and laughing (like what people
do when I sing) is SO important.
*If you're a dad, don't bail on the responsibility you have to raise the
pups. Strong, engaged, loving fathers are at the core of this nation and the lack thereof is a primary reason for the meltdown
of the family.
If you get a chance to run with coyotes, do it. You might learn something
like I did. Ok...that's all.
