The visitors soon left and no one followed. It was mid-week and mid-winter in Colorado Springs so there were not many visitors at the zoo that day. Now that I was alone again one of the young wolves came up to the glass and began cautiously looking at it. I was not sure if it was checking out its own reflection or catching glimpses of my shadow inside. Whatever it was something was catching its curiosity, yet in its investigation the pup remained cautious. Curiosity and caution, two traits wild wolves need to survive and this wolf’s wild heart was shining through so much that I chose this image to represent the body of my work as a nature and wildlife photographer, which I call Wildheart Photography.

Most of the animals presented in my images are wild, but others, like this wolf are captive. Deep inside these animals, their hearts are still wild. They were designed for a life much different then the lives they now lead. Sadly, if they were freed from their bars and fences into the world they were designed for they would most likely perish. They have never known how to live free.

Most human hearts are also captive. Locked behind bars of failure and chained by emotional pain. We are held within cages forged by harsh words, misdeeds false beliefs and sin. We are safe behind our bars. But we were designed for a life of so much more; a life of freedom. Jesus wants to take you there. Trust Him, repent and learn to live free.

I later learned that several wolves that were in this enclosure were released in to the wild. Maybe this wolf was one of them? Whether you have already begun a journey with Jesus or not, fully released your life to Him and His plan today. You will never be the same. You will be like a wolf born in captivity, but who was later trained and released into a world of freedom and adventure: the life it was made for—the life you were made for.

Pasquale (email me)