Journey to the Center

Message for August/September 2007


By Reverend Darlene Strickland
Meet Rev. Darlene ~ Link to Journal World article

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The great mythologist, Joseph Campbell, uncovered a universal pattern he called the "Hero's Journey."  The hero’s journey is life’s pattern of evolution that is revealed in every great story, especially the story of our life.   The journey requires one to leave the familiar and traverse among places and faces unknown.  It includes a quest where the hero must accomplish a specific task or discover something of great value.  The journey is wrought with unexpected obstacles and precious miracles.  The hero must continually refocus and adapt to successfully navigate the transition. In the end, this particular journey is complete – the hero is forever changed – and the treasures and lessons of the journey are brought back home and shared with the greater community.  And then, the next journey begins.

The hero’s journey is every life story.  It is witnessed in the details of our daily life, in every loss and every find.  However, the real story is not found in the outer landscape of our life; the real story is what occurs in the inner landscape of our being.  The hero’s journey is essentially a journey to the center of our Self – a continual coming home to the truth and fullness of who and why we really are.   The outer circumstances of our life are the passage way whereby we come to discover the inner resources and treasures of our being.  The hero’s journey reveals our Creation’s intention for us to discover and actualize our core essence as pure Spirit and our true nature as one with the One.

We each walk our individual path; yet, we share one journey - life.  As such, our story has a way of inspiring another.   Something very liberating occurs when we share and celebrate our stories together.  This month, we will experience our third year of “A Hero’s Journey.”  Each Sunday in August, you will have the opportunity to witness the transformational journeys that are taking place in our spiritual community.  Individuals will share glimpses of their personal trials and triumphs… allowing you to see the fingerprints and miracles of God in their lives. 

Join us each Sunday in August as the great mystery of life continues to unfold and awaken within and among us.

 In love and service,

 Rev. Darlene