A high school friend and I discussed our respective journeys. Also his entitled jerk of a cousin who looked down on both of us and is now a super rich doctor married to another doctor. Because there either isn’t a just God or one who has some massively brilliant moves up His sleeve.

In any case, the arc of the universe aside, we made ourselves feel better by saying that the poets of old wrote about people who took great journeys with accompanying hardships, not rich doctor types. I mean how many epic poems are about anesthesiologistss, accountants, consultants, and lawyers. Not too many.

Nothing wrong with those professions, but the stories are told about people like Odysseus who either choose or are forced to take the hero’s or heroine’s journey – one filled with obstacles, doubt, fear but also great sights, beauty, and adventure.   I told him that mine almost killed me.  He said that what would have really killed me was if I had never taken it.

The thing about the Odyssey is also this. Not a surprising insight, but the long journey he takes prepares him for his destiny and goal of reclaiming his kingdom, reuniting with his family. For context, Odysseus was away from his home for 10 years before he began his trip home. During that period, his kingdom was overrun by traitorous types who wanted his throne and wife. I’ve realized it’s very possible that he would have had a difficult and even impossible opportunity to return successfully, even with his army behind him. As I’ve stated and learned, external enemies are much easier to fight than internal ones. The enemy within is the deadliest and it’s the hidden balde that hurts the most.

The journey prepares him.

Already a brilliant man, he develops endurance, fortitude, and acquires more wisdom. All of which he needs to win out, which he does Tom Brady style.

Another thing I noticed was the limited role of Athena, the goddess of wisdom and Odysseus’ patron higher power. She doesn’t really intervene all that much during the additional decade he takes to reach home.

I have reflected on the possible reasons behind that and aside from letting him grow and develop, it’s more than that. I think she only helps when it makes a difference. And she is wicked smart about it.

At the end, she disguises him as an old man so he can infiltrate his palace and with the help of his now adult son, takes care of business Tarantino style.

You must trust the path, the process. I took the kids to a play about a girl who has to navigate her way home through a dangerous forest with goblins. Her grandmother gives her this either difficult to perceive or invisible thread to guide her home. Grandma tells her that when it’s the scariest and darkest, it’s when she must trust where the thread is leading – home.

And that’s wheee the love is found.

It just takes a hell of a journey to get there.