Love God, Love Others: A Hero’s Journey
Some heroes slay dragons, some heroes save lives. Still other heroes invest their days in supporting their families, making sure there is food in the fridge, paying the bills on time. There are a thousand ways in which people answer the call to heroine and hero. And yet, according to Joseph Campbell, there is one basic and amazing storyline through which people live out the hero’s journey.[1]
In his book, The Hero With a Thousand Faces, Campbell describes his discovery of the monomyth, or foundational theme, present in the heroic experiences of mythical and historical characters throughout the millennia. This monomyth consists of three distinct phases in the hero’s journey: separation, initiation, and return.[2] Each of these phases can be broken down into smaller segments of the journey. The hero, setting out from his ordinary homeland, is lured to the “threshold of adventure.” Crossing the threshold, he or she encounters unfamiliar trials and barriers they must overcome, and in overcoming these challenges, the hero is initiated into a stronger, wiser version of him or herself. Upon returning to the homeland, the boon that he or she brings back contributes to the restoration and enhancement of the world.[3] The hero’s journey speaks powerfully to the human soul, for it is woven into the very fibers of our spirit and being, reflecting our own story and wakening our own call.
The hero’s journey reminds me of God’s call on our lives to love God and love others through the unique gifts that God has embedded in our being.[4] In doing so, we embark on a life-long adventure of challenge and growth, discover our potential, mature into better versions of ourselves, and gain the opportunity to contribute positively to our families, communities, and the world. In an interview with Bill Moyers, Joseph Campbell commented, “The influence of a vital person, vitalizes.”[5] As we employ our “bliss,” as Campbell refers to those callings that give us joy, we bring our environment to life![6]
Ironically, the adventures we most want to engage can cause us the greatest fear; and fear can prevent us from starting the journey. Perhaps in these times, it is important to focus on a growth mindset, so that the fear of failure does not overcome us. I saw a mural of Mandela when we were in Cape Town, South Africa. It was located in District 6 and the words next to Mandela’s picture read, “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising everytime we fall.”[7]
Not all journeys involve bliss and not all journeys feel heroic. Certain life seasons arrive unexpected, bring confusion, feel demeaning, and end in what looks like failure. However, often after struggling through these dark nights of the soul, God deepens our intimacy with him and allows us to emerge as healthier, wiser, and more humble individuals.[8] The boon we gain is often not seen until we arrive home.
The Hero with a Thousand Faces is an important presentation of the human story. People bring a multitude of experiences to this theme, receive varied credit for their heroism, and emerge with various gifts from their trials. The challenge is inspiring and one I will continue to contemplate.
[1] Joseph Campbell, The Hero With a Thousand Faces (New York, NY: Princeton University Press, 1949), viii.
[2] Campbell, 35.
[3] Campbell, 245-246.
[4] Mark 12:28-31.
[5] https://billmoyers.com/content/ep-1-joseph-campbell-and-the-power-of-myth-the-hero%e2%80%99s-adventure-audio/, 1988, 0:51.
[6] https://billmoyers.com/content/ep-1-joseph-campbell-and-the-power-of-myth-the-hero%e2%80%99s-adventure-audio/, 1988, 0:12.
[7] Mural of Nelson Mandela, District 6, Capetown, South Africa, 2022.
[8] John Farina, ed., John of the Cross: Selected Writings (Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1987), 163.
About the Author
Jenny Steinbrenner Hale
18 responses to “Love God, Love Others: A Hero’s Journey”
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Jenny, I appreciate your thoughts on Campbell’s work. I think it’s humbling to remember how much we have to learn from the stories of others, mythological or seemingly mundane, about who God is and how God works.
Hi Caleb,
Thanks for your comments. I agree with you. It is incredibly humbling to learn from the stories of others. The ordinary, everyday stories and the extraordinary can be equally inspiring. Your comments make me think of a pastor in Mexico who once told us that the one thing that people can bring to share with others, which no one else can bring, is one’s personal story of what God is doing in his or her life.
Hi Jenny,
Your reference to the interview of Campbell caused me to connect what he said with Friedman. Campbell’s quote “The influence of a vital person, vitalizes” reminded me of Friedman’s contention that what is more important than what a leader knows is a leader’s non-anxious, self-differentiating presence. However, I am admittedly needing clarification on the concept of bringing our “bliss” and “callings that bring us joy.” I am all for our calling being a source of joy. But through Friedman and Campbell, I’ve pondered the importance of challenge and struggle in our life journey. Would you mind providing some extra thoughts on the integration of joy in the midst of our journeys that involve trials and struggles? Maybe they are not mutually exclusive. Mandela’s quote (“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising everytime we fall.”) is helpful in understanding this tension, but I would love to hear what you have to say.
Hi David,
Thanks for your comments and for your great question regarding joy in the midst of our journeys that can often involve trials and struggle. I think Campbell referred to various types of journeys. For example, when he says, follow your “bliss” or follow your dream, that seems like the kind of journey that we choose and which might be more enjoyable, though filled with struggles. Another journey on which we embark might be the unchosen journey that catches us off guard and leads us down a road where we don’t want to go, a journey filled with barriers and trials. It would undoubtedly be much more difficult to have joy in the second journey. But, I think of Desmond Tutu and all that he endured and somehow, he held on to his joy. I’m also thinking about verses like James 1:2 (“count it all joy…”) and Philippians 4:4 (“Rejoice in the Lord always…”), which encourage joy in the midst of anxiety-provoking situations. This is definitely hard to do in life, but maybe it’s doable, when we’re trying to align with God’s perspective? Such a challenge.
What do you think?
Did I get at your question? Feel free to clarify again if not.
Jenny – I agree with you, sometimes we may not see the bliss on the journey, which might bring doubt and confusion. The difference comes as we experience growth in our love for God and for others. There is no better boon than hearing those words, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
Hi Jean,
Thanks so much for your insights! I greatly appreciate your comment that, “There is no better boon than hearing those words, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!'” Isn’t it interesting that words and affirmations, especially from our Creator, can be considered a boon, including a boon that enriches those around us?
Enriching boon indeed Jenny! Psalm 133 says it best; Behold, how good and how pleasant it is…!
Thank you, Jean, for the addition of that encouraging verse!
Hi Jenny
Great connection to the everyday hero and heroine that is being courageous without embarking on an adventure to a new land. What ways might the Hero’s Journey connect with the average person who does not see themselves as a hero?
Hi Chad,
Thanks for your comments and question! I wonder if Campbell’s description of the hero’s journey might inspire people who don’t see themselves as a hero or heroine, by reframing their story and highlighting the sacrifice, struggle, and giving of themselves as truly extraordinary acts that result in transformation and the enrichment of everyone in their sphere? I suppose it’s possible that ordinary heroes and heroines already seem themselves as such, but I am guessing that most, in humility, do not.
Your question reminds me of a section in Bill Moyers interview with Campbell regarding the hero’s journey when Campbell describes how fully alive a group of soldiers must have felt in rescuing another soldier. He says:
“I remember during the Vietnam war, seeing on the television the young men in helicopters going out to rescue one of their companions at great risk to themselves. They didn’t have to rescue that young man… It puts them in touch with the experience of being alive. Going to the office every day, you don’t get that experience, but suddenly you’re ripped out into being alive. And life is pain and life is suffering and life is horror, but by God, you’re alive and it’s spectacular.”1
And then, Moyers asks what about the mother who gives of herself, her energy, her daily resources in an isolated environment, to raise her kids well? Cambell agrees, she, too, is a heroine. I found Campbell’s earnestness in this video powerful. Heroes and heroines of many types show up on our screens and right in our midst, whether or not they think of themselves as such. I’m drawn to those everyday heroes.
1. https://billmoyers.com/content/ep-4-joseph-campbell-and-the-power-of-myth-sacrifice-and-bliss-audio/, 00:00-2:05.
Jenny,
You write beautifully. I loved your connection with the mural in District 6. “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising everytime we fall.” I seem to fall, or fail, frequently. But I make an effort to always get back up and start again. Sometimes it is something in my spiritual walk with the Lord, sometimes an attitude adjustment or behavior that needs changed. This quote is truth for me. Thank you for sharing it in this space.
Thanks so much for your comments, Tonette. I agree, this quote from Mandela resonates with me, too. I’m inspired to learn from my mistakes and to trust God to keep making a way for the journey ahead.
Hi Jenny, I love your connection of the hero’s journey to our life with Christ. “The hero’s journey reminds me of God’s call on our lives to love God and love others through the unique gifts that God has embedded in our being.” I think when we embrace God’s call to love others we truly show ourselves to be heroes to others. Bob Goff says that when people meet Christians, they should feel like they just met a little slice of heaven. This thought has stayed with me. We see so much condemnation and judgement from the Church at large and I wonder if this is the hero’s trial of our time, to overcome that negative voice and repair the reputation of Jesus in the world. What do you think?
Hi Becca,
Thanks so much for your comments and thoughts and for your question. Your idea that, “We see so much condemnation and judgement from the Church at large and I wonder if this is the hero’s trial of our time, to overcome that negative voice and repair the reputation of Jesus in the world” is intriguing! The Christian Church increasingly does seem to be earning a reputation of harsh judgement on others. I like your thought that we can be models of care and can change that reputation to align more carefully with Jesus’ love.
I was listening to a podcast, The Bible Project, recently and they were focused on Deuteronomy. Tim Mackie, the host was noting that the intent of the law was to guide people in living lives in right relationship to each other, and in so doing, others would see the positive result and want to live for that God and that code of ethics, as well. I wonder if we as the church have sometimes forgotten that God’s guidelines were intended to lead us in living in right relationship with each other.
Jenny – I appreciate you pointing out the importance of failure on the “hero’s journey” of life, particularly when it comes to our spiritual journey. So often we only want to tell the shiny parts of our stories, but it’s the difficult times that have the most to teach! What do you think leaders can do to encourage those they lead to share their struggles and failures, so growth can occur?
Hi Laura,
Thank you so much for your comments and what a powerful question! You asked, “What do you think leaders can do to encourage those they lead to share their struggles and failures, so growth can occur?” The first thing that comes to mind is that we as leaders need to create safe spaces for people to be transparent and honest. We also need caring communities in which people can feel supported, loved, heard, and held… and then allowed and challenged to heal and grow.
What climate supports these elements? -possibly honest and transparent preaching about the hardships of life, safe and well-trained small group leaders and participants, relevant small groups to meet the real needs of people in the church, possibly psychologists on the church staff and open conversations about how we can attend to our mental health? These are just thoughts that come to mind at the moment. I would love to continue this thinking with you over the years. What thoughts do you have on this topic?
I wonder where you are on this one month later….
“ The Hero with a Thousand Faces is an important presentation of the human story. People bring a multitude of experiences to this theme, receive varied credit for their heroism, and emerge with various gifts from their trials. The challenge is inspiring and one I will continue to contemplate.”
Thanks, Alana, for your question! I’m still thinking about this from different angles. One thing that strikes me is that there are a lot of amazing people in the world doing heroic acts and not getting credit for it. Some are so humble, their heroism isn’t seen by other people. I guess heroism is still meaningful and one’s acts effective and beneficial, even when no one but God sees. Also, I wonder if sometimes, a person’s hero journey doesn’t look heroic to the world, but for that person and in God’s eyes, it’s a huge accomplishment. For example, people struggling with grief and/or depression, if they get out of bed, get dressed, get their kids off to school and are there for those kids when they get home, that’s heroic. Just mustering the energy to keep going day after day might be the challenge, though no one else knows the intensity of that challenge. I think that’s definitely a hero’s journey for that person. Those are some of my recent thoughts. I’ll keep contemplating this one.