Ride 'Em, Cowboy

Here is yet another analogy regarding the nature of humanity and its condition. Trust, all this eventually leads somewhere.

A wild horse is a sight to see. Untamed, unshackled and free to run with the wind. Then a cowboy comes along thinking "What a fine animal. So strong and powerful. I will tame him and bring him under control. Together, he and I can do great things!". So, the cowboy manages to rope the horse, who is quite naturally not happy with this turn of events. The horse rears, snarls and kicks as it tries to escape. The horse has now become what is known as a "bronco", as in "bucking bronco".

The cowboy is not deterred. He attempts to saddle the horse. It takes many days of trying. Finally, he is able to winch the saddle onto the bronco. Now it is time to mount the animal and teach it to cooperate with a higher being. The cowboy manages to mount the bronco, but here's where it lives up to its name: every time the cowboy gets into the saddle, the bronco bucks him off. A battle of wills begins, staged between horse and rider. One is attempting to retain its self-will, the other is attempting to harness its energy so that together, they can produce more than they would apart.

Hours pass. At first, the bronco appears to have limitless energy. The cowboy is determined, however. Bruised and dusty, he continues to attempt to "break" the bronco. As night begins to fall, the bronco begins to lose a bit of steam. His kicks and bucks decrease in energy until they are little more than nudges. Finally, as the moon begins to rise, the cowboy mounts the bronco and the animal is...STILL.

You know the rest. The rider teaches the horse how to obey commands, how to turn left, turn right, gallop on command, etc. The horse becomes an extension of the man. It even begins to love the man and finds itself eager to serve and please him. Together, the rider and the horse are able to do much important work, and the difficulties of their early days are all but forgotten.

Man is that bucking bronco. Spirit is the cowboy. Man has the ability to become so much more than what he is, but he requires the assistance of Spirit. He has to forgo living for himself, join with Spirit and begin to live for a Higher Purpose. But man is ignorantly selfish. "Doing his own thing" is all that he knows. He will rebel against any sort of perceived "control", even if it is being offered by his own Spirit.

When Man relinquishes his self-will and allows Spirit to act through his physical vehicle, then he is on his way to Remembrance. Spirit and Matter are meant to be a partnership. As long as Man continues to "buck" Spirit, he will ever be lost and unhappy, even though he thinks he is "free".

Release attachment to the physical world. Seek Truth diligently. Listen to The Voice Within. With devotion and sincerity, invite Spirit to take up residence your heart. Then stand aside and watch the magic happen.

Saddle up. Let's ride.

~ g

Bronco-busting Instructions