Authors note – This article is dealing with protecting the culture of the family unit and the institution of marriage to keep the foundation of a healthy country.
The metaphor of breaking a horse to the institution of marriage can be a powerful comparison, emphasizing transformation, discipline, and mutual growth. Here’s how this analogy can be unpacked:
Breaking a Horse: Transformation and Commitment
- Process of Breaking: Breaking a horse isn’t about destroying its spirit but channeling its natural energy into a harmonious partnership with its rider. This requires patience, consistency, and mutual respect.
- Relinquishing Wildness: The horse must let go of its unchecked instincts to become a trustworthy and dependable companion. This parallels letting go of self-centered behaviors.
- Mutual Trust: For the rider and horse to succeed, trust must be established, ensuring the horse understands the partnership is not about dominance but mutual benefit.
Marriage: A Journey of Growth and Sacrifice
- Commitment to Vows: In marriage, the vows represent the commitment to work through challenges, not flee from them. This mirrors the patience and dedication required in “breaking” or training a horse.
- Shedding Selfishness: Just as the horse must adjust to the presence and direction of the rider, partners in marriage must adjust to each other’s needs and sacrifice personal desires for the greater good of the union.
- Creating Selflessness: Marriage, when approached with humility and grace, fosters selflessness. Each partner learns to put the other first, mirroring the discipline and self-control seen in the breaking process.
The Outcome: A Harmonious Partnership
- Improving Humanity: A well-trained horse can serve a greater purpose, just as a strong marriage can contribute to society. A thriving marriage serves as a model of love, patience, and sacrifice for children and the broader community.
- Refining Character: Both breaking a horse and committing to marriage refine character. The process requires humility, perseverance, and the willingness to grow, all of which contribute to stronger individuals and a better society.
- Sacrifice for a Greater Goal: Just as a horse sacrifices some independence for a productive partnership, individuals in a marriage give up selfish pursuits to build a lasting and meaningful union.
The Challenges and Rewards
- Challenges:
- In both horse training and marriage, there is resistance, misunderstanding, and the temptation to give up.
- Growth often comes through discomfort, as both horse and human—or spouses—learn to move in sync.
- Rewards:
- The reward of breaking a horse is a loyal, useful, and harmonious relationship. The reward of marriage is a deeper bond, spiritual growth, and the joy of building something enduring.
Conclusion: A Sacred Institution
Marriage, like breaking a horse, is not about domination or subjugation but about learning to work together toward a common purpose. It requires commitment, sacrifice, and love. This process of letting go of selfishness and embracing selflessness can improve not only the individuals involved but also the family and society at large. By staying committed to vows, marriage becomes a divine tool for personal and communal growth, reflecting humanity’s highest ideals of love and unity.
