The Alpha and the Stallion

They say to train a great stallion one must begin immediately after the horse is born. A halter is placed on it to teach it to lead, obey commands, and other necessary skills. He can’t be ridden until he’s three-years-old, or else his back will sway. Too much pressure at too early an age could cause harm. But as he grows, his bones strengthen and his muscles build and become solid. Stallions posses a certain male hormone called testosterone. This hormone can make these magnificent creatures unpredictable, hard to manage or handle, uncooperative and sometimes dangerous. But this is also what makes the stallion such a magnificent animal. When the stallion is well-trained by professionals, his ability for greatness increases dramatically. He is hard-wired to be this way.

They also say that there is always a pecking order in herds of horses. The stallion is the owner. The other horses are his. He protects them, watches over them, and keeps predators and other strange horses away. The rest of the horses trust him. There’s a special relationship between the stallion and his horses. He is, in essence, their leader.

But he is not the head leader.

The Alpha horse is the head leader. This horse is the one who guides and provides. Even the great stallion is submissive to the Alpha horse. This is dominance in its truest form. And dominance is all about wisdom for the Alpha. The stallion, along with all the other horses in the herd, look to the Alpha with great respect. It is truly amazing to see this beautiful order work among a herd of horses.

If the stallion isn’t cooperating with the Alpha, he can’t lead effectively. If he can’t lead well, danger which lurks in the shadows can overrun the herd. Some could get hurt, or even die. Yet, when humility combines with wisdom, something spectacular occurs…fulfillment for the stallion and security for the herd. All it takes is respect for the Alpha.

My friends, can you see it? Can you see the beautiful picture I’ve painted for you? There are true characters on this canvas.

Can you feel it? Can you feel the energy the stallion possesses as he submits to the Alpha? There’s no one greater. The stallion needs the Alpha. The Alpha works through the stallion. It’s a wonderful partnership—a partnership for life.

Brothers, we are called to lead--lead our wives and children, lead in our churches, lead in our society. Who else better to lead than Christian men who are standing on the truth...who are in tune with our Alpha (and Omega)...who are dedicated to integrity. If we don't lead, think of who will. And if we aren't cooperating with the Alpha, someone could get hurt. It could be us, or our wives, or our children, or our churches. Truth is, it would be all of the above.

However, when we submit to the Alpha, when humility combines with wisdom, nothing but good comes of it. There's safety, harmony, trust, security, significance, honesty, peace, adequacy, joy, happiness. What a place to lead into?!

I write this, my brothers, ...

...because YOU are the stallion.