Encounters/Core
The Odyssey
Core Paper #1
Since the beginning of time, men have embarked on journeys.1 To the Ancient Mayans, journeys were considered a gift from the gods. But what is a journey? A journey is many things (see figure 1). But what does that mean? According to Merriam-Webster's dictionary, a journey is "an act or instance of traveling from one place to another," or "something suggesting travel or passage from one place to another."2 Some notable people who have embarked on journeys are Jesus, Forrest Gump, and Helen Keller. Perhaps the most notable person of them all is the famous Odysseus of The Odyssey. In fact, the modern day term "odyssey" comes from Odysseus, and implies peril and danger during a journey. This is not just a coincidence; in fact, the world is full of peril and danger (see figure 2).
Journeys and life are similar, but very different too, as demonstrated in The Odyssey. The journeys in The Odyssey are journeys that people embark on in the real world. As a famous philosopher once said, "Life is a journey, not a race."3 Also, Confucius said, "It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop."4 Odysseus encountered lots of peril and danger on his journey but he did not stop until he returned home to his beloved wife Penelope. The story of Odysseus shows us the importance of going on a journey when the destination is really important. Journeys are all about where you end up at. In conclusion, I still like journeys.
1. Sir Edmund Hillary, Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir Elton John, et. al.
2. Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary
3. Ted Sengpaseuth
4. Confucius