Journeys that change us
My takeaways from this week’s reading feel complexed. At first, I thought Campbell’s book was a study of the similarities of world religions and I was excited to dive into it. However, while A Hero With A Thousand Faces was thought provoking, I bristled at what appeared to be reducing the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus to mythology. This was particularly blatant when Campbell stood by his concept that all religions, mythologies, and folk traditions everywhere teach that a hero had died as a modern man; but as eternal man – perfected… he had been reborn.[1]
When I took the reading out of the context of Christian theology and looked at it from a sociological perspective, I found a richness to harvest. Fundamentally, I see this week’s book as a different approach to the theme from Mining For Gold. Whether it be the hero’s journey or the rite of passage for emerging young men in tribal cultures, there were liminal spaces that were uncomfortable or scary and then once a threshold was crossed new understandings, perspectives and even realities existed.[2]
Campbell’s description of a hero’s journey could fit any human life. The very nature of being human is that we journey through life and on the way face adversity. We may get help. It could be dangerous. If we survive, we will be changed. Matthew Winkler in his short, Myths & Monsters: Joseph Campbell and The Hero’s Journey, brought the cycle of the journey even into artistic and pop culture with the story line for the main characters of Harry Potter and The Hunger Games living through the steps of the Hero’s Journey. [3]
In the early 2000s I met Henri Landwirth. Initially, all I knew about Henri was that he was a philanthropist who partnered with my husband to help clothe people in need. We became friends and would get together socially with Henri and his wife. But there was more to Henri than met the eye. Once, he asked if we could give him a ride from Orlando to Jacksonville. When we got to the meeting place, we found ourselves in what looked like a miniature fantasy world. The place was Give Kids The World, a nonprofit resort with the mission to serve children with terminal illnesses and their families. They are treated to weeklong, cost-free vacations.[4] This happy respite is where Make a Wish and Dreams Come True send children whose dream is to meet Mickey Mouse. Everything in the village was free to the families. The ice cream parlors were all you could eat, and the bowling alley, cinema, and arcade were always open. Mr. and Mrs. Bunny Rabbit tucked every child in at night.
Henri gave us a tour that was delightful, but soon became a heart tug. As we walked, families would approach Henri in tears to thank him for their week. He was gentle with the children and soft spoken to the parents. When we entered the welcome center, we understood. There was a picture of Henri: founder, and champion of the resort.
We learned a lot about Henri that day, especially on the ride back to Jacksonville. We asked Henri what motivated him to create the village. Then we heard his horrid, tragic story. Henri spent most of his teen years in five different concentration camps during World War II. While there, his parents were killed, he was always hungry, never fully clothed, and thought that he would die every day. Surviving the unconscionable, Henri devoted his life to helping other children who suffered. The tattoo on his arm, usually under a long sleeve shirt, remained as a constant reminder of his journey of hate, resilience, and survival.[5]
Henri is not a savior nor god to worship. Yet after living a journey separated from others, near death and more, he saw life differently.[6] He came out on the other side forever changed. His status quo upgraded. He used the horror he survived to do good things. Give Kids the World was just one of many. While he was not THE hero, to the children and families who continue to experience the benefits of his efforts, he was one of many thousands of faces who became heroes to the people they serve.
Throughout The Hero With A Thousand Faces, Campbell pointed out that many of the sacred stories that are held by followers of different religious traditions are similar. Campbell was making the point that so many religions are based on the myths of the same hero who follow the path. I disagree with his conclusion. I don’t see the concept of a hero’s journey as necessarily about religion. Nor do I see his examples compelling to debunked Christianity. Buddha went on a seven-year quest in search for salvation.[7] He was not a god but looked for enlightenment. The founder of Sikhism, Nanak, prayed to God, creator, supreme truth. The guru was a teacher, not a savior.[8] These two individuals were finding different ways to live their lives. They were not to be worshipped.
Jesus knew who he was and taught with His own authority, (Matt. 7:28-29 NIV) something that Campbell missed. The fact that Jesus is one of Campbell’s heroes is appropriate in one aspect. Jesus is the ultimate hero.
I think the value of The Hero With A Thousand Faces is learning about the hero’s journey in other cultures. It could be crossing the threshold through a rite of passage such as birth, coming of age, or death, where all members of a group are somehow impacted. Everyone who lives on this earth has a journey to take. What we do with that journey is what matters. Learning about the hero’s journey and thinking of Henri reminds me to stay aware of my journey. Learning from difficulties can help me grow as a servant leader.
[1] Joseph Campbell, The Hero With A Thousand Faces 3rd ed. (Novato: New World Library, 2008), 15.
[2] Joseph Campbell, 6-7.
[3] Matthew Winkler, “ What makes a Hero” YouTube video, 2019, 4.34.
libguides.gvsu.edu/c.php?g=948085&p=686194
[4] Henri Landwirth and J.P. Hendricks, Gift Of Life (np: Henri Landwirth, 1996) 206.
[5] Henri Landwirth (philanthropist), excerpts of conversations with David and Diane Tuttle, 2002 – 2005,
Jacksonville, FL.
[6] Henri Landwirth and J.P. Hendricks, Gift Of Life (np: Henri Landwirth, 1996) 13.
[7] John A. Hutchison, Paths of Faith (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1969), 111.
[8] John Hutchison, 193.
About the Author
Diane Tuttle
11 responses to “Journeys that change us”
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Diane,
I like that you referenced Henri as “But there was more to Henri than met the eye” because doesn’t that describe most heroes?
What I’m also taking away from your post, the book, and our journey in this program is that we, as leaders, become the heroes to others. And, just as Campbell points out, heroes come with scrapes, bruises, and lots of scars, right?
And just as you mentioned, heroes are not Jesus. They are not to be idolized, but their monomyth is a reminder to us that there is good in the world, and there are good people who do amazingly good things (like Henri) … and aren’t you a hero in some way as well?
What are some things you can put into place that become continual reminders that, as you say, “learning from difficulties can help me grow as a servant leader”?
Thank you Nancy for your comments, mostly for your question. I think the best thing to put in place is to constantly ask the question, what am or can I learn from this experience. Another thing that helps me is learning from experiences of others and what they did with their journeys. The best thing I can do though is to remember to rely on God to guide my heart, thoughts, and actions. Not always easy in the midst of turmoil but if it stays a habit, there is a better chance to permeate heart, thoughts, and actions. I am not sure if that fully answers the question but the question itself heightens my consciousness about faith being an interactive part of me that isn’t just there. It will always be better if I don’t walk away from paying attention to how God can work through even difficult things.
Diane,
I appreciate the pushback against Campbell. It is always good to read with a critical eye and not simply to agree with stated premises. I fully agree with you that Jesus is the true hero. We see his story repeated to a degree with all of the little heros who came before him, David, Moses, Abraham, etc. Do you see aspects of Jesus’s story that align with other religious stories in which their hero journeys are similar? Essentially, are their points of his Campbell’s conclusion that you do agree with?
Diane, I really appreciate how you started this blog with a challenge to yourself — taking the reading out of the context of Christian theology and looking at it from a sociological perspective.
Woven throughout the post you do a wonderful job of applying insights to highlight your learnings while also communicating a clear stance on certain arguments Campbell makes, offering a well-laid-out and respectful critique.
You mentioned The Hero With A Thousand Faces provided value in learning about the hero’s journey in other cultures. What value do you feel that widened cultural insight provides and how can it be applied in your current context?
Hi Akwese, I think whenever we look at something from a different perspective it widens our understanding and hopefully an appreciation of the richness that diversity brings to life. I truly think of it as the body of Christ 1 Cor. 12:12 . In the organization I serve, it is in our differences that we balance and augment the strengths of one another while also picking up the gaps when they occur.
Good question Adam, I do agree with Campbell that other faith leaders have been on personal journeys that changed them and gave them lessons to pass on to others. They may even have been human heroes. I just don’t think that all the people Campbell mentioned on the different journeys are a reiteration of the same person just told differently. All that being said, God is God and I am not.
So is it possible that God uses these myths to draw people to Himself. Sure. When Henri L. died he still practiced the Jewish faith. Do I think he is damned to not being with God for eternity because he didn’t profess Jesus as Lord while he was alive? No I don’t. I don’t recall that Jesus said we have to believe in Him before we die. (I should probably research that) I picture Jesus meeting him at his death and taking his hand and saying, I am so sorry that people who claimed to be Christian did horrible things to you so that you were too scarred to know me when you were on earth. But I am here to take you to my Father now. My picture may not be sound but at the transfiguration Jesus met with Elijah and Moses who had been dead for a long time. Jesus had not yet died and risen, but he still met these faithful people. Maybe it is possible. It is worth thinking.
On a whole other note, it is truly sad that in our sinfulness, Christians actually can get in the way of people meeting Jesus.
Thanks for asking. Not sure if I answered your question but it sure got me thinking.
Diane! Thanks for your perspective which reaffirms some of my disappointment in the Christian portrayal of Campbells writing. Notwithstanding a lot of meat to glean from and your testimony of Nori further proves not all heroes wear capes. As you spoke of staying aware of your own personal journey, what sticks out for you at this point?
Diane, I appreciate the way you draw in insights from both “Mining for Gold and our reading on Threshold Concepts. You suggested that Cambell’s description of the Hero’s Journey could fit any human life. Do you think it can be overly applied or forced to fit at times? Are there times when people might use it to create meaning in their circumstances or even rationalize decisions? I asked similar questions of Ryan based on his post and was curious about your thoughts as well.
Chad, good question, especially as we head into next week where we will be looking at Harford’s book where one of the first things he discusses is people looking at information that supports their view favorably and that which doesn’t is dismissed.
I do think that the idea of a hero’s journey could fit any of our lives from the perspective of learning from our experiences as we journey through life, then choosing how to use what we learn and grow from it. It surely doesn’t always happen. I don’t see it as forcing something or rationalizing decisions. It is an opportunity for anyone to learn and grown. What someone learns and how the person uses it is up to the person. I think we all have to look at our own experiences and make those decisions. If it makes us better in our faith, life and work, I am not sure, even if it is rationalizing decisions or trying to create meaning to experiences really matters. Thanks for asking.
Diane, I appreciated your story of Henri Landwirth. I wasn’t familiar with him or his work. He lived a truly inspirational life.
I also bristled when I read Campbell’s categorization of Jesus’ story as myth. I thought you did a good job dissecting the different sacred stories of different faith traditions. You showed great insight in emphasizing the hero was not meant to be worshipped.
I view you as a hero as you faithfully serve as CEO of Angelwood. What have been some of the things that have kept you “purpose focused” on your hero’s journey? What step do you feel like you have reached on the journey?
Elysse, you are very kind. I don’t see myself as a “hero” but somone called to serve the Lord in the work that is before me. Things that keep me purpose focused are the people we serve who are in the same building where our admin offices are located. Seeing them and being invited into their world is a gift. Sometime there are cycles in the journey of my work. Things go along for a bit then a new difficulty comes up that needs to be traversed. So I don’t know that it is a linear journey. Right now, the work journey is in a good place. Thanks for asking. I hadn’t related the monomyth to my work before.