| Some say we don't have anymore heroes but I | | | | pastor, a counselor, a teacher, or a sagacious |
| say we do. Let's take a look at what a hero is | | | | friend appear just when you needed the help? Did |
| and decide if you are one. | | | | your spouse, or sibling, or parents' faith and |
| A hero travels the hero's journey. That's when | | | | prayers pull you through and keep you believing? |
| regular people such as you or me are asked to | | | | Did God or Spirit fortify your resolve and |
| leave our routine life because something serious | | | | strengthen your courage? |
| has occurred and we are asked to do something | | | | More problems confront us on the hero's journey. |
| about it. We are "called to help." We are called to | | | | And even while feeling battle weary, the hero not |
| save our king, our country, our friend, or ourself. | | | | only stays riveted on the original goal but he or |
| And because the task is arduous, we really don't | | | | she manages additional strength to confront the |
| want to accept it. | | | | fear which really holds power over him or her. |
| Medieval stories call the journey a "quest" because | | | | Nothing stops the hero who pushes through to |
| the hero faces not only a serious challenge but | | | | complete the mission and return home victorious |
| sometimes a life or death circumstance to boot. | | | | where friends, neighbors and family shout, |
| Examples of a modern day hero's journey are | | | | "Welcome home!" This is biblical, archetypal and |
| leaving for war, battling a cancer, caring for a | | | | transcendent. |
| parent stricken with Alzheimer's, the grief with | | | | So, what do you think? Are you a hero? If you |
| burying a beloved child or mate, or going through | | | | have walked the hero's journey then maybe you |
| a painful divorce. The challenge we meet on the | | | | are. And if you are a hero you probably had a |
| hero's journey might mean facing an enemy | | | | helping hand from someone when you lost your |
| within such as a dependence on alcohol, drugs, or | | | | way. We all need support in our descents, quests, |
| a compulsive behavior. | | | | and pilgrimages whether a hero's journey or not. I |
| Once we fully face the seriousness of our | | | | love the idea of reflecting on life, particularly our |
| challenge, we realize that nothing in our life will | | | | trials, because it affords an opportunity to give |
| ever be the same. And while we may feel very | | | | thanks to the people whose grace kept our souls |
| much alone with this realization, rest assured, | | | | believing when we thought we could bear no |
| fellow traveler, that you are not alone if you are | | | | more. |
| on the hero's journey because a spiritual guide | | | | My friends, whether we have fought the |
| always emerges with the sole purpose of | | | | unbeatable foe, whether we have walked the |
| reminding us of our strengths, offering us | | | | hero's journey or not, remember it's never too |
| encouragement, and providing us with much | | | | late to be grateful for another chance to make |
| appreciated hope. Think now about your own life. | | | | our life, our dreams and Every Day Matter. |
| Did an angel of mercy in the form of a rabbi, a | | | | |