The Parable of the Wild Horse

The master of Promised Land Ranch rose up in confidence and with purpose

as his ranch hands saddled and mounted the horses as they readied to head out into the range.

He was preparing in order that he might capture wild stallions

fresh and unbroken to train up for a future demonstration of skill and training

in the Greatest Show on Earth.

A magnificent young stallion had been spotted on the far plains

right near Apotheosis canyon and so he headed out there to see

if he could lasso the untamed creature and bring it home to his ranch and training ground.

There on his own land and in his special training ground

he would break the stallion of its natural and wild ways

that he might shape it into the image that he desired.

Then he would demonstrate at his wild west shows

the beauty and strength, intelligence and potential

of these wonderful creatures of God.

And in his heart of hearts he looked forward to the possibility

of not only teaching  the stallion a disciplined way

but also of establishing a relationship.


For in his varied experience he had found that there developed a bond-

a special relationship between horse and trainer that was special.

It was like gaining a new friend.

His love for horses had given him the opportunity on many occasions to get to know a horse

and cultivate a relationship until it almost seemed like the horse returned his affection.


A young and healthy looking stallion was spotted near the canyon

as his group approached and the horse was immediately  alerted to the presence

of these who intruded into his wild domain.

He naturally responded with nervous mistrust and even fear.

He ran off immediately exhibiting his wildness in his  gait-

tail held erect and high

as he nervously trotted away before the future trainer could get near.

But the trainer herded the stallion to a place where he would have to run close by

in order to get by him and escape the pursuers.

Then he would be close enough to try to lasso him.

Successful on the first try the untamed roan bristled at the lasso that cinched tight

on his hide and she sought violently to pull away.

But they were careful not to hurt the frightened animal and quickly managed his powers.

An experienced hand took charge and got the captured one moving forward

and kept a pace where all the roan could do was follow.

He wasn't seeking to overpower the

stallion just to redirect his energies in a way that was safer for this wild animal

that had never before known the touch of one that would seek to influence. 

It was in hope that the boss and his ranch hands lead him back

to the prepared and  fenced pasture.

There he would be separated and kept alone for the dealings that would begin in his young life.

Because of the untamed nature of the creature

the horse master knew that he would have to take the breaking process slow.

It needed to be a gradual process of subjugation where untamed animal

was little by little brought under the control of another.

They all noticed to their pleasant surprise that this horse was more spirited and fiery

than any they had seen in a while.

Confine one such as this too narrowly at the beginning

would be dangerous because the horse could harm himself or others.

Initially, he was placed in a large fenced pen where he could run around with some freedom

which is just what he did when he was first led into the pen and released from the lasso.

Immediately he began to run about with tail high and nervous energy coursing through his body

as he sought to move away from this unfamiliar situation

But he was fenced in on every side and could only run about in circles.

And so here he was left alone with feed and water

to give him time to settle and  acquaint himself  with his new surroundings.

Eventually he would tire and rest.


In a few days the next part of the breaking process would begin.

Each day the trainer would come to the horse

and each time the horse saw him he would begin to get agitated and run about the pen

But gradually the horse responded to the presence of men

with less and less agitation and mistrust.


Then on the forth day the horse was lassoed again

and a rope was tied around its leg.

This rope was long enough so that the horse could still run about.

He just had less room to run about in.

The trainer knew that the breaking process had to be slow and methodical

so that the horse could make the adjustment without too much danger too himself.

Press the horse too quickly and a violent reaction could be dangerous.

'A little bit at a time', that was his motto



And so every few days the rope was shortened until the animal was left

with very little room to move about..

 Each day in faith and hope the trainer came to see the horse

and to set food and water within his reach.

And though the sight of the man caused a negative response in the horse

the man was gratified that each day it became less and less.

 And though the trainer would have loved to pet the horse

seeking to communicate  his tenderness, he would not risk it, yet.

 A violent tug on the rope that secured him could break his leg.

And so the trainer was patient.


Finally after the horse adapted to the fact that he could move hardly at all

and had resigned himself to his new captivity it seemed,

the trainer approached with some food which he held out in his hand.

This was new.

The trainer before had always set the food down and walked away

but this time he was holding it out for him

He became nervous and jittery and shied away at first

but eventually his hunger motivated his to reach forth and take a mouthful of proffered grass

The peaceful and loving demeanor of the trainer surely helped.

This went on for a few days until the horse was used

to eating out the the trainers hand.

And then one day the trainer held out his hand with no grass but a small white cube.

The horse sniffed it, unknowing and a little confused,

 but he took it in his mouth.

He experienced a sweetness such as he had never before tasted

and marvelled in himself at new sensations.

Before long he looked forward to this little white cube to be offered

The trainer could see that the stallion was getting used to him

and soon was able to reach out his hand and pet his snout.

At first, skittish, the hose shied away

but found eventually that the sweetness would come only when he submitted

And after a time the trainer was able to pet the hoarse and even brush him down

as the horse has grown accustomed to his presence.

He had quieted down so much that he even let the trainer lead him to an indoor stall

where he would stay at night only to be released in the morning to his pen

where he no longer had a rope attached to his leg.

The trainer could now do just about anything he wanted without alerting the horse

who always now would come over to him hoping for more of the sweetness.

But this day was one where the big test would come.

For now the trainer would seek to set a saddle on the horse

and seek to ride it for the first time .

Like with the horse in this story God's aim

is to have us come under the control of the Holy Spirit

and it takes time for us to be ready for all the ways in which

God would have us to be under such control and influence.

Like the animal instinct of the beast our flesh will react violently at times

when another seeks to control or limit us.

Spiritual Butterfly

He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity:

he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword.

And he who would beget a buttlerfly must himself become a butterfly.