Ring, ring, ring.
Of course someone calls soon as I start working on this week’s tasks.
Sigh.
I peer at the phone.
It’s not gonna answer itself.
I press the button and he fires off.
Today’s Sermon was perfect and I feel so much better, so what are you working on right now?
I respond, you sure you wanna hear this, don’t want to step on your toes.
He responds, the way I feel right now, I’m floating on a cloud.
I respond, so glad you mentioned the cloud thingie. I am currently reading the Secret Book of John and it’s hooping, do you know the value?
He sighs, the Secret Book of John?
I respond, it’s from the Nag Hammadi Library found in Egypt. Isn’t that sexy? And now, we have a chance to read the Gnostics in their own language, that’s super sexy. I can send it over to you.
He pauses and there is silence.
That awkward silence.
The kind of silence with so much noise . . . you consider blocking somebody.
He responds, there’s a reason it’s only four gospels. It’s complete and now you want to mess that up. What’s wrong with you sir?
I respond, how can we be born with the greatest computer in the universe and dwell in such poverty? This is soooo simple. If they found manuscripts in Egypt, why don’t you want to read them?
He responds, I just told you.
I respond, doesn’t the thought even bother you? Why would someone want to take books with them? And a better question, who would outlaw such books that they had to be kept a secret beyond the grave?
Before he responds, I let him have it.
Something in me locks and loads.
Full artillery.
Preemptive Strike.
BOOOOOM!
This is crazy to me. Here are documents, Egyptian Documents, possibly from the Library of Alexandria, and they are written in Coptic, but they are called Gospels? Does this mean Gospels existed before Christianity existed? OMG, this is so exciting, why aren’t you turned up?
He responds, there’s no point in doing this. For instance, where does God come from, can you answer that question?
And I’m thrown off course and down the wrong street.
We live in a modern era with access to knowledge and information, which we now call data and metadata.
It sits there, alone and impoverished, waiting to help us take the Heroic Journey.
And here’s the truth.
Nobody cares.
Before I respond, he sticks his chest out and speaks with cynicism.
There’s no point in looking, we’re never going to know who started what and what started this or that, it’s a waste of time. If you can’t tell me where God comes from, why ask the other questions?
I agree with you, this is unbelievable.
But then I realize the trick.
And it’s been in front of our eyes the whole time.
Him, society at large, the general public, what the woke people call Sheeple, that’s their job.
Their job is to keep the status quo.
And I realize another nugget of truth.
That’s why it’s called the Monomyth.
The Heroic Journey is for ONE PERSON.
Not for a group, a convent, a church, a family, or even a married couple.
It’s made for ONE PERSON.
And if you’re that ONE PERSON, it’s going to be rough for you.
First, you’ve been called.
Not your cousin, your best friend, your husband, or your daughter.
You.
It’s hard to believe, isn’t it?
It’s this simple.
You hear the call to adventure and you leave the village and step out into the forest.
And there is no trail.
No clearing.
No fences or sign of human intervention.
You go into the deep and dark and most treacherous part of the forest.
This is how we take the Heroic Journey.
And just like that, he sticks his chest out again.
I told you, you’re just like everybody else, you claim to know the truth and when I ask you, you can’t tell me. You hide behind all the slick language and flowery words, but you’re a Charlatan like everybody else. Why should I leave my pastor for a fake pastor? These are the only gospels I need, thank you SIR.
Has this happened to you too?
Guess what, there’s nothing to do or say.
I respond, thanks man, I’m glad we cleared that up, I’ll hit you back.
And when he hangs up, I’m relieved.
Not mad, upset, or bothered.
I know his job description.
Hater - A person who spends their entire life being lazy and discourages others from taking the Heroic Journey to improve humanity.
You know what’s even better?
My Job Description.
Hero or Heroine - A person who is curious about life and hears the call to adventures, takes the Heroic Journey, and returns to the village with the Golden Fleece to lead humanity into a Golden Age.
So that’s what I’m struggling with right now.
How about you, any haters in your life calling you right now to keep the status quo and keep you from your destiny?
