The Absalom Syndrome

Absalom, for those who may not know, was a favorite son of King David. He was smart, was dearly loved by his father and the people his father ruled adored him. He was a ‘beautifully’ handsome man with a head full of hair (envy of most ladies) and a gorgeously built body. His natural endowments of talent, beauty and charisma coupled with being a prince in-waiting were not in doubt to anyone that met him at the courts of his father! His motives though subtle at first became bolder as he continued to woe the people that came to see his father.

Not too long people knew what he really was about and he started gathering his followers to finally expose who he really was. Abe had ambitions to be king in place of (and not after) his father so he went to work using everything within his reach to achieve it at all cost. He knew he had siblings who were qualified to be king as well but to him he was better than every one of them. He must force this to happen at all cost. No waiting, no approval or protocol or decorum necessary. This syndrome can be likened to riding high horses.

Whether horses or men, Abe did not care; he just loved riding high. Abe loved riding, pure and simple! It did not matter to him that despite his natural endowments and his exaggerated perception of himself that he was just a prince amongst other princes and remained so until the father passes and the king makers crown him as king. When things did not go Abe’s way, he decided to make it happen so he got up on his high horse and galloped to his death. The false sense of indomitability in riding high horses became apparent as that source of pride became the Achilles heel for Abe when his beautifully preserved hair (that was cut, weighed and publicized annually) got caught on a tree branch and the high horse (he trusted in) rode off and left him hanging as easy target for an insulted general that had an ax to grind.

Riding fair and low has its merits. Good riders need good and not necessary high horses. A gold fish has no hiding place. King Solomon was just one of the princes when his half brother was riding high but when the time came the true king emerged. The wisest earthly king that ever lived (King Solomon) said “let others praise you” and people throughout the ages continue to marvel at his wisdom while his high horse riding brother’s life remains an object lesson. Hence we hear age old advice from well meaning folks, “get off your high horse” and mingle with the masses. The true princes will emerge and they will not be found on high horses.

It is truth worth contemplating.–

Akiroro.