The Hero's Journey

Imagine you’re spending the first days of your summer relaxing by the pool, or working in the flowerbed, or just trying to take it easy, when a stranger approaches you and invites you on a special mission. After the initial “stranger danger” reaction, let’s assume this person is sane and really believes there’s a special prize for whoever finishes this mission. What do you do? It could be risky, it could be expensive, and you might be ridiculed for going on the journey. 

It doesn’t take much imagination to realize that’s kind of the invitation to follow Jesus. While the first invitation may remind you of some kind of action/adventure movie, the invitation to follow Christ is often very tranquil or symbolic in comparison—or so it seems. 

Joseph Campbell wrote a book called The Hero with a Thousand Faces, in which he describes the Hero's Journey, a common pattern in nearly every hero story, especially the ones involving a quest. His model starts with the status quo, someone who isn’t looking for change but has a call to adventure. This is where faith begins to take place (Romans 10:17), believing that the quest truly is a worthy one. 

Once the proper gear is obtained and assistance, the hero begins the journey. The cycle continues through departure, trials, facing danger, crisis (James 1:2-4). Although this is only the first half of his model, it makes a great place to stop and think about this pattern in our journey with Christ. Once we’ve come to a sense of contentment, or humility, or genuine love for others, the remainder of the journey should seem to be more rewarding. However, for many people, the journey up to these moments of conflict causes them to abandon the quest. Or as Jesus illustrated in the parable of the soils in Matthew 13, some seed fell on the rocky soil and had no roots, and some fell among the weeds and briars and were choked out by the worries of the world. 

It takes great perseverance and determination to face the giants on this journey. It takes great faith to see beyond the dangers to the prize ahead. As Paul said in Philippians 3:12-14, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” 

On this hero’s quest, there is a clear goal and a clear mission. We’re reminded in Matthew 28:18-20 of the Great Commission. Many other stories and letters reveal the seriousness of the mission, the stakes involved, and the reward for staying with it. This scenario really is true. 

Do you believe it? 

Will you join the quest?