We Need Wolves

A leader is best when people barely know he exists… when his work is done, they will say: ‘we did it ourselves.’” Lao-Tzu

We’re kicking off March with our Man to Man Conference, and the theme is “Time to Lead.”

When most of us hear that phrase, we picture microphones and stages. Platforms. Big followings. CEOs. Lead pastors. Social media voices with something bold to say. Some personality frameworks even call these leaders “lions.” Strong. Commanding. Out front. And we need lions!

But we need more wolves.

I once read about how, in 1995, grey wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park after being absent for nearly 70 years. What followed was remarkable. Their presence triggered a wide-ranging cascade that changed everything about that ecosystem. While grey wolves are apex predators, what has been found, is that their presence actually gives life to some many.

Elk populations that had grown unchecked began to decline and their behavior changed. They stopped overgrazing river valleys and lingering in open areas. In response, willow, aspen, and cottonwood trees regenerated. Their root systems stabilized streambanks and erosion slowed. Beaver populations rebounded, building dams that created life-giving habitats for fish, amphibians, ducks, and insects. Songbirds returned. Scavengers like ravens, eagles, foxes, and badgers thrived off what wolves left behind. Coyotes declined, which allowed small animals to increase. Even grizzly bears benefited—both from scavenging wolf kills and from improved berry production tied to vegetation recovery.

The wolves didn’t work to impress. They didn’t demand attention. They didn’t get lazy with all of the excess food around. They simply did what they were meant to do. And their presence changed everything.

I can’t help but wonder what would happen if we “reintroduced” Godly men into our communities, churches, and culture. What would the downstream effect be generations from now?

What if homes stabilized because fathers became the guiding spiritual voice in their children’s ears? What if marriages grew stronger because men chose covenant over convenience? What if brotherhood was celebrated over isolation and we worked in a “pack”? What if churches were marked by courage, humility, and conviction? What if The Great Commission got taken seriously?

I can only imagine what God could do with men who would humble themselves and pray and commit to seeing their “ecosystems” being restored with the goodness, truth, and beauty that God had intended.

Fifty years from now, someone will live in the downstream of the decisions we make today.

A son. A lost soul.

A coworker.

A church member. A young man watching how we handle pressure.

The question isn’t whether we are influencing our ecosystem. The question is what kind of ecosystem we’re creating.

It’s time to lead.