Charting Your Life Journey: An Odyssey of Lessons

 Even his griefs are a joy long after to one that remembers all that he wrought and endured.
Homer, The Odyssey

 

When I was in undergraduate school I took a course in Greek Literature. It was not my favorite subject, but I did find myself fascinated with some of the writings—in particular The Odyssey by Homer. The term “odyssey” continued to show up in my life through other readings or programs. And as I’ve gotten older, I found that this word appropriately describes acts of my life’s journey.

            The Random House Dictionary defines an odyssey as "any long series of wanderings, especially when filled with notable experiences, hardships, etc."  For those who may not be familiar with Homer’s piece, it chronicles the journey, setbacks and protection of its warrior main character, Odysseus.

 As in the expression ‘art imitates life,’ many others may be able to identify with the lessons of this epic tale. If not The Odyssey, there’s Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, The Lion King or many other foundational life stories on traveling roads, falling down, facing who we are and getting back home, while reflecting on the interactions with the people we’ve met along the way. Writings on faith, spirituality and religion enlighten us to some of the same messages.

In thinking about our own encounters or events, we realize that in sometimes mysterious yet circuitous ways, these messages serve to shape and mold us much like the characters of these works. Understanding the past is most times a key element in making sense of the present. As we celebrate and prosper, suffer and learn or rise and fall through these ordeals, we come into what is the beauty along with the complexity of our earthly existence. Usually that takes time. 

 

 

This world we travel presents paths with faults, barrenness and cracks while also offering its bounty of growing seasons, plants and flowers. The seasons will change and so will the conditions. We trek across this land encountering people and places, sometimes stopping and restarting. Moving through phases of our odyssey at given points we may ask: Where am I?  We look at where we’ve traveled and ask: What’s behind me?  Is this the best way ahead? What’s before me?  Side trips will take us into new territory, providing new ground and spaces to explore. We’ll cross and burn bridges. Our thoughts may also focus on places to avoid. We may even ask which stops are necessary.

I encourage each of us to explore our own odyssey and the lessons that lie within, even from our various forms of grief. The yield for our future can be tremendous!