Where to Now?

I recently looked at the tape of Bill Moyers interviewing Joseph Campbell, It focused on the "The Hero's Journey." The basic steps of this journey are first, encountering a challenge by choice or being thrown into one. (Encounter) The second step is engaging the challenge to change something about the condition or the world. (Engagement) The third step is enlightenment and wisdom. (Enlightenment and Wisdom)

I know this is Martin Luther King's month. We honor him as a hero for all of us. Because the changes he catalyzed created unlimited opportunities for women of all races/ethnicities, people of all cultures, and anyone in the category of being or feeling disadvantaged. I like to think that King chose to play on a bigger "game board" than most of us. However, that does not diminish in any capacity the daily and life-long efforts of "everyday heros" who choose "smaller boards" with less risk to their lives. They are equally heros in the description given by Joseph Campbell.

A life-long friend of mine is James Perkins of Jackson, Mississippi. He has dedicated his life to the education of students, primarily African American at Jackson State University as well as other Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). I am using Jim to symbolize thousands of others, of all races, ethnicities, and cultures, who have also made similar commitments. They are, in my opinion, equally valiant heros. And I want to acknowledge them.

Most of all, I recognize their effort as a spiritual calling. It is comprised of excitment, frustration, elation, satisfaction, contribution, and love. Love coming at the conclusion of ushering their successful product into the mainstream of society. Jim has been particularly successful in acquiring the financial resources to provide opportunities for literally thousands of students. He gets on more airplanes than me, which is a Herculian effort. He works tirelessly everyday, in spite of the fact that he is not 35 years old anymore. He will not take "no" for an answer for acquiring resources in behalf of students. He always finds a way.

As is true for all the "everday heros" Jim symbolizes, the third step in Joseph Campbell's journey is the inner transformation that occurs simultaneouly with "changing the world," "making a difference," or "influencing the growth of others." The real difference that has been made that we really control is the transformation within ourselves. Thus, enlightenment!

Now we are truly ready to change the world by exerting the least amount of effort and the maximum amount of wisdom. Thanks Jim and all the thousands of heros you represent at traditionally HBCUs, both past and present. You truly represent King's Dream. After all, King was a product of that dream! (Morehouse College)

A free download audio podcast of an interview between Bill Guillory and Judd Bagley on the subject of "Spirituality in the Workplace."