Beginning the Spiritual Hero's Journey: The Ordinary World

Dr. Tim Wilkins,
Jul 23, 2016
3 min read

"There's gotta be something more, Gotta be more than this, I need a little less hard time, I need a little more bliss, I'm gonna take my chances, Taking a chance I might, Find what I'm looking for, There's gotta be something more."

- Chorus from the song, 'Something More' by Sugarland

I find myself experiencing a sense of longing for....I don't know...something. It just always seems like that "something" is right there but...it is just out of reach. It is that feeling that there should be more to life than going to work, paying bills, etc. Do you feel this too? If so, read on as I tell you more about what I think this "something" missing looks like.

All of us have developed the habit of compartmentalizing our lives. We have all of these different areas (work, family, commitments, hobbies, etc.) placed in little boxes in our minds and hearts. Once they are there, we devote massive amounts of energy to preventing the contents of each individual box from spilling into the others. It is tiring but we do it because we believe it helps us manage the stress of life. The truth is that it really does not. It makes it worse.

This is because there is one part of life that we need to let spill over into every "box". That is our quest for spiritual growth and development. Our quest for spiritual fulfillment - to become a Spiritual Hero - needs to be part of all areas of our life not compartmentalized in its own little box. Developing spiritually gives all areas of life purpose and meaning. This is what Joseph Campbell meant when he said, "I don't believe people are looking for the meaning of life as much as they are looking for the experience of being alive."

We want to do more than just live, we want to be alive for all of our life. Spirituality helps us to do this. Recognizing our true identity as Spiritual Heroes in this ordinary world is the means of grasping that elusive 'something'. The spiritual quest is not an optional part of life. It is not a hobby. We don't keep it in a box and decide to "work on it" when we have the time or 'when we feel like it'. It is the work we are put on this earth to accomplish! We are spiritual beings on a journey in this earth, not earthly beings who can choose or not choose a spiritual journey. The quest for spiritual growth and development is integral to discovering who we are and who we desire to become.

Spirituality doesn't belong in a box. It is, in fact, the tool which shapes everything else. It is that "something more" that we all need to be truly and completely alive. This is our bliss!

Developing spiritually takes a 'no matter what' kind of an attitude on our part. Spiritual heroes stay on the path, commit themselves to love unconditionally, empower their work with spiritual insight while following their life goals and dreams no matter what may come their way.Through struggle and through joy, they stay on the journey. They soon discover that they need to take this journey with others because they realize that they need a community and this journey is more enjoyable when traveling with others. They share what they learn with each other and support one another on the journey toward enlightenment. The quest to become a Spiritual Hero helps us to develop relationships and live life in such a way that we become an embodiment of the basic spiritual principle, 'Many pathways, one goal'.

This ordinary world needs Spiritual Heroes who will not only undertake this path for themselves but also help others to recognize and live this truth. We don't have to be perfect or to have it all together before we invite others to go with us. Rather, we are called to build an imperfectly perfect community of Love and Grace to enlighten and change our world. Do you hear this call? Are you willing to move into the fullness of life? If so, Let's journey together toward enlightenment and spiritual wholeness.