The Hero’s Journey

The other night I was visiting with my brother and sister in law (actually, she was doing my hair). And in my typical style and without a moment’s notice I asked my sister in law, “Do you believe there is a purpose for your life? Do you know or sense that you are here for a unique and profound reason?” In her brilliant and hysterical way she did a slight roll of the eyes and continued to listen more than respond.

As a little girl, I would lay awake in bed wondering what the point of this whole thing was. I would repeat my name over and over again at varying tempos and with changing accents wondering how in the world and who came up with these sounds … the vowels, the consonants. Where did they come from? I was insatiably curious about the origin of Life. I still am insatiably curious about the origin of Life, what makes human beings tick and what’s the point of the whole thing.

Bodhi was recently mentioned in a report titled “How We Gather,” published by two graduate students at The Harvard Divinity School. The report explores Millenials’ relationships to the religious landscape of this country. It’s fascinating. The work of Casper ter Kuile and Angie Thurston is to support deeper community among organizations, such that a “fruitful movement for personal spiritual growth and social transformation” will emerge. Spiritual growth and social transformation—sign me up!

As we move into the month of June, which we’ve titled “The Hero’s Journey,” we can’t help but explore, “What is the unique contribution we are here to make? What is the divine idea for life? Why now are these questions so important?”

Joseph Campbell was a scholar that made famous the concept of the monomyth, or The Hero’s Journey. The Hero’s Journey is the story of one’s transformation from suffering to great power to then liberating his or her community or society. The notion that we could each be a contributor to the liberation of humanity from it’s own self-constructed belief in separation is as close to the meaning of my life’s purpose as I can assign. The purpose of my life is to awaken to the God within. The purpose of my life is to give back the gift of awakening individuals to live their inherent power and purpose.

“The notion that we could each be a contributor to the liberation of humanity from it’s own self-constructed belief in separation is as close to the meaning of my life’s purpose as I can assign.”

Others have gone before us in honoring their sacred call, their hero’s journey, and midwifing that which is possible today. There is something in each of us that is unique. There is something in each of us that is needing and wanting to be expressed. That thing that is seeking to emerge through you may be that which addresses climate change, it may be that which addresses growing economic disparities, it may be that which revolutionizes education, it may be that which causes a wave of forgiveness in your family never before imaginable.

Only each of us knows what we are here to contribute and how. As Joseph Campbell notably writes, “Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls.”

Photo credit: Marco Gomez via flickr