In Joseph Campbell’s book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, 
he notes that “The Hero’s Journey” is open to everyone, and is the ritualized process that involves separation from the known, comfortable world; initiation into the unknown; and, return. The first step in this process is the Call to Adventure, which “signifies that destiny has summoned the hero.” However, it must be emphasized that the person summoned is only a potential hero, as the destiny of heroism has yet to be actualized.
Whether the “Call to Adventure” comes from something good or bad, it signals to each of us that an opportunity has opened up for us: to move from the common-day and comfortable known into the risky world of the unknown. Many will decide to refuse the call, thinking the risk is too great; but by avoiding the challenges that could result in virtue and honor, they find neither. Perhaps some think that violent or anti-social rebellion is heroic; or, others only imagine themselves as heroes—and become another Walter Mitty.
Some, however, answer the call; and whether they do so haltingly or boldly, their step is the first of many that will give them purpose, help them flourish and bring them to fulfillment. In all likelihood each will need the guidance and wisdom of those who have traveled far along their journey, to help us move completely away from our comfort zones and fully into the unknown. The prospects of what we will face after entering into our mysterious path can be daunting, and even scary. When we come upon those challenges, their burden can drive us to our knees.
And when we feel overwhelmed by those experiences, we can make the free will choice to move our hands toward each other in prayer for the "Supernatural Aid" described by Campbell. That aid encourages us; instills in us the courage we need in order to continue on...
So as we move through and beyond “The Road of Trials,” we realize that we have passed the tests. For they, and our conquest of them, give us what Campbell describes as “momentary glimpses into the wonderful land to help propel him (us) onward.” I wanted to share with Kevin some of my past trials, to teach him how well—or how poorly—I had performed during them, so that he could learn from me.
Because of the inherent potential for heroism that life gives us, of many kinds, the life you know is often not better than the one you could know—no matter how comfortable you are.
Where will the rider in this image (my son, Kevin) take himself, and how well will he travel throughout his journey?”
Those are questions for every person.
These questions are also posed to my daughter Maureen, to me and to all of us, because we live in time and because time never stands still. Life asks those questions of each of us, and our destination--our destiny--forces us to answer them. We must decide, and therefore cannot be agnostic--about anything. We fool ourselves into thinking that "no decision" is not a decision. If we have faith in ourselves and in the truth of the Creator who made us, we can actualize our potential heroism, overcome life's obstacles and take the most important leg of our journey: "The Return" in order to help others complete their journey.
Amen
Tom
One way to help understand the difference between Plato and Aristotle would be to watch a sporting event on television. In many cases, either the play-by-play announcer or sideline reporter simply report the facts of the game, while the color commentator adds “color” by putting flesh on the bones of those facts. In many cases, the first two individuals know about the game but never played in one, making their “knowledge” theoretical. The commentator, on the other hand, can add that color because he knows the game from having played in many. Therefore experience, and the first-hand knowledge gained from it, is one of the key differences between the teacher and his former student.
Off to the left of those two philosophers we can see Socrates, who seems to be engaged in the famous “dialogue.” His Socratic question and answer discussions helped participants discover the highest truth he believed was within each of us and which needed to be brought out in order for us to live the good (i.e., moral) life. This “Socratic dialogue” is known as “maieutics”, or midwifery, as it helps to birth the truth. It is also in contrast with the Sophists, whose relativistic beliefs about truth Socrates sharply criticized. One must be careful not to misunderstand Socrates’ understanding of truth, and think it means each person has his own “truth” as this would therefore make it relative. The philosopher believed truth to be an objective and eternal reality that is inscribed upon our soul, and not something each of us creates in the form of an opinion about what we believe. But do the virtues of philosophy bring us to the highest truth, limited as it is to reason and the senses?
Of course the greatest example of this is found in the Gospel of John, with the evangelist’s inspired words affirming, “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” And no greater demonstration of this love exists, than when Jesus lay down his body on that cross. Behind all this love is the love of God, who thought enough of his creation that he would send down His Son in order to save us—for Him.
