Seized by Christ

They are experiencing Christianity as joy and hope, having thus become lovers of Christ.

Author: seizedbychrist

Does Every Hero Become a Tyrant?
How Power, Pride, and Self-Reliance Can Derail the Hero’s Journey

Q: Can it be said that the success of a hero tends to lead to tyranny as he attempts to hang onto his success and fame? Or does success achieved “on one’s own” tend to make a person think they can do everything by themselves?

A: Yes—and both are real dangers that appear again and again in the lives of leaders, heroes, and anyone who has fought hard to succeed.

Let’s take a closer look at what happens after the victory—after the dragon is slain, the mountain is climbed, or the crown is won. The Hero’s Journey doesn’t end at success. In fact, the moment of triumph often presents the most spiritual danger.

Q: How does success lead to tyranny?

A: When a hero achieves greatness, he also gains power—and with it, the temptation to cling.
- He may fear losing what he fought so hard to gain.
- He may begin to control rather than serve, dictate rather than guide.
- He may silence others who challenge his authority, even if they speak truth.
- He may forget his original mission and become obsessed with preserving his status.
This is how a good king becomes a tyrant—not overnight, but gradually, as fear replaces courage, and pride replaces humility.

We’ve seen this in myths, history, and modern life. The very strengths that lead to success (vision, determination, discipline) can mutate into control, arrogance, and suppression if the hero refuses to let go.

Q: What about the self-made hero?

A: The hero who believes he achieved everything “on his own” faces a different temptation: isolation and pride.
- He may reject help or guidance, believing he doesn’t need anyone.
- He may treat weakness with contempt—including his own.
- He may come to believe he is the master of his fate, forgetting the role of grace, community, or divine providence.
This path leads to a kind of functional atheism—living as though God isn’t needed, as though man alone is enough. The self-made hero becomes an island, and in time, he finds himself alone, overburdened, and unable to carry the weight he once believed was his to bear.

Q: Is there a better path for the hero?

A: Yes—the true hero is the one who learns to let go of success and point beyond himself.

After the victory, the hero is called to:
- Give rather than grasp.
- Mentor rather than dominate.
- Serve rather than rule for his own sake.
This is the model of the servant-king, not the tyrant. It’s the path of self-transcendence—not self-preservation.

As Christ said: “Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:25)

The greatest heroes are not remembered for what they kept, but for what they gave away.

Final Thought:

The Hero’s Journey is not just about slaying dragons—it’s about learning what to do with the crown. Success is a test. Will the hero cling to glory, or become a servant for others? Will he live as if he’s god—or remember the God who gave him strength?

The journey doesn’t end at the mountaintop. It ends when the hero kneels, gives thanks, and passes the torch.
May 17, 2025
Trauma, Depression, and the Adversary
Three Ways We Respond to Pain
Life is hard. Sometimes, we go through deep pain—abuse, loss, betrayal, or the quiet ache of being unloved. That pain leaves a mark. We call it trauma. But trauma is not just what happens to us. It’s how we carry what happens inside. And how we carry it shapes how we live.

Most people respond to trauma in one of three ways: through depression, through the adversary, or through healing. Let’s look at each one in simple terms.

Trauma: The Wound

Trauma is a wound to the soul. It can come from big things (like violence or betrayal) or small things that happen over and over (like neglect or shame). Trauma makes us feel powerless, afraid, or alone. It’s the breaking point inside where life feels too much.

But what we do after the trauma—that’s where the real story begins.

Depression: The Collapse

Some people respond to trauma by shutting down. This is called depression.

Depression says: “Life hurt me, and I don’t want to try anymore.”

It feels like sadness, emptiness, or numbness. A person may feel tired, hopeless, or like they don’t matter. It’s a slow fade into silence. In a way, depression is the soul going into hiding. It pulls away from life to protect itself.

This is not weakness. It’s a sign that something deep inside needs healing.

The Adversary: The Mask

Other people respond to trauma by building walls and fighting back. This is what we call the adversary.

The adversary says: “Life hurt me, so I will take control.”

This might look like:
- Being harsh, cold, or bossy (control)
- Always chasing pleasure or comfort (escape)
- Mocking others or tearing things down (bitterness)
- Always trying to win or look strong (fear)
The adversary is a mask we wear to protect the wound. But over time, the mask becomes who we are. We stop growing. We stop loving. We stop being real.

The Hero: The Path to Healing

There is another way. The way of the hero.

The hero also feels pain. But instead of collapsing or putting on a mask, the hero faces it. The hero says:

“I was hurt. But I will not let that wound define me.”

Healing begins when we:
- Admit the pain is real
- Refuse to give up or hide
- Stay open to love and truth
- Ask for help, even when it’s hard
The hero does not pretend to be strong. The hero becomes strong by walking through pain with courage and grace.

Final Thoughts

Trauma is real. But so are the paths we take after it.
- Depression is the soul’s cry for rest.
- The adversary is the soul’s shield against pain.
- The hero is the soul’s journey back to life.
Wherever you are in your story, don’t give up. Healing is possible. Even from deep wounds. Even after long silence. Even when you feel lost.

You are not alone. And you don’t have to stay stuck. You were made for more.

With content and editing from ChatGPT
May 16, 2025
“Deus Caritas Est” Summary Sections 1 thru 8

Exploring the Depths of Christian Love: From Eros to Agape

Pope Benedict XVI’s Deus Caritas Est explores the nature of love, distinguishing between eros and agape, and emphasizes that true Christian love integrates both. It calls believers to experience God’s love personally and express it through selfless actions toward others.

DCE 01 Christianity is centered on love—God’s love for us and our love for Him and others. Being Christian isn’t just about rules or ideas, but about meeting Jesus, who changes our lives. God’s love calls us to love in return, not just because we’re told to, but because He loved us first. This message is especially important in a world that sometimes misuses God’s name. The Pope writes this letter to explain God’s love and how we should live it out, both by understanding it deeply and by showing love to others through action.

DCE 02 God’s love is very important, but the word “love” is used in many different ways today. It can mean many things—like love for family, country, work, or romantic love. Romantic love between a man and a woman often seems like the strongest kind. The section asks whether all these different kinds of love are really the same, or just share the same name.

DCE 03 The ancient Greeks called the powerful and unplanned attraction between man and woman eros. But the Bible, especially the New Testament, rarely uses this word. Instead, it emphasizes agape—a love that gives, serves, and sacrifices for others. Christianity does not reject eros, but seeks to purify and guide it so it leads to true love and happiness, not selfish desire or misuse of the body.

In ancient cultures, eros was seen as a divine force that could take over a person like madness. This idea often led to harmful practices, such as temple prostitution. The Old Testament rejected these false forms of love, not because love is bad, but because this version of eros dehumanized people and separated love from true dignity.

True love must include both body and soul. Human beings are not just spirit or just flesh—we are both. Love matures when body and soul are united in purpose and respect. Christianity has sometimes been wrongly accused of rejecting the body, but the modern world’s way of treating the body as just a tool for pleasure also dishonors it. Christian love sees the body as a sacred part of the whole person.

The Song of Songs in the Old Testament shows how love can grow. At first, love is uncertain and selfish (dodim), but over time it becomes more selfless and committed (ahabà or agape). Mature love seeks the good of the other, not just personal pleasure. It wants to last forever and include all parts of life.

Christianity teaches that love must be both giving (agape) and receiving (eros). If love is only about giving, it dries up. If it is only about taking, it becomes selfish. Real love includes both. Jesus is the model of perfect love: He gives completely, and through Him, we receive God’s love. The ladder in Jacob’s dream (angels going up and down) shows how love moves both ways—seeking God and sharing His love with others.

In the end, love is one reality with different sides. Christianity does not oppose human love, but completes and purifies it. It brings out love’s deepest meaning by showing us who God is and what it means to be truly human.

This is a summary of Deus Caritas Est sections 1 thru 8 by Pope Benedict XVI, given on 25 December 2005. This summary was created by ChatGPT and is intended to be an abbreviated version of the document, for those who do not have time to read the original.

This is not an official translation.

The original is located at Deus caritas est (December 25, 2005) | BENEDICT XVI

Related Posts:

How Do I Know If I’ve Truly Encountered God’s Love?

What Does It Mean to Truly Meet Jesus?

Why Does Christianity Feel Like It’s All About Rules?

Why John 3:16 Still Matters

May 14, 2025
Why Real Charity Should Ask for Something in Return
A Surprising Lesson from the Mafia Model
We often think charity should be free and without strings. But what if that approach doesn’t work over time? What if the best way to help people is to ask them to give back in some way? In this blog, we look at a bold question about giving and responsibility—and the answer may surprise you.

Q: I’ve been thinking about how the Mafia used to work. If someone needed help, they got it—but they owed something in return. Either they paid interest, or they had to be ready to do a favor when asked. If they didn’t follow through, there were consequences. I’m not supporting violence, but the model made sense in one way: it kept resources moving. If I helped the first person, they could later help the second person. This way, you never run out of resources. And if the system asked for a return with interest, the “pie” could actually grow and help more people. Isn’t that better than free handouts?

A: What you’re reaching for here is a deep idea—one that many people overlook. You’re describing a system where help isn’t just a handout. It’s part of a bigger plan of reciprocal responsibility. That means everyone gives and receives, not just one way. It becomes a moral economy—a way of helping that includes both care and duty.

Let’s look at what makes your example meaningful (even if it comes from a rough source):
- Help is never wasted. In this model, when someone gets help, they know they must give back—by working, helping others, or staying loyal. This keeps the system strong.
- Resources grow, not shrink. When people repay with interest (not just money, but effort or service), there’s more to go around for the next person in need.
- Community becomes stronger. No one just “takes.” Everyone plays a role. People don’t feel like helpless receivers. They feel responsible and useful.
This isn’t far from Catholic Social Teaching. In fact, the Church says help should come from the closest possible level—like family, friends, or local groups—and that help should lead a person to grow, not stay dependent.

That principle is called subsidiarity. It means: help, yes—but help in a way that builds up the person. That’s the big problem with many modern systems. Aid is given, but no effort is asked in return. People become passive. They lose motivation. They feel like they’re owed help instead of feeling grateful or responsible.

So what can we learn from your question?
- We should help people in need—but in a way that invites them to contribute
- We should ask for something back, not because we are selfish, but because we believe in the person’s ability to grow and give.
- We should build systems that recycle support—where today’s help becomes tomorrow’s gift to someone else.
In short: giving without limits can destroy the pie. But giving with wise limits and high expectations can grow it—and grow the people we help.

Conclusion:

Real charity is not about doing everything for someone. It’s about doing something with them. That way, they become part of the solution. Whether we call it subsidiarity, stewardship, or paying it forward, the idea is the same: when we give, we must also build. That’s how we keep the pie growing—and dignity alive.

Q&A with ChatGPT
May 6, 2025
What Is the Right Way to Help the Poor?

Many people want to help those in need. But sometimes, the way we help can hurt more than it helps—especially if it takes away a person’s sense of dignity or worth. A short story or memory can help us think more clearly about this problem. Here is a reflection and answer on what real charity looks like.

Q: I knew a priest in a small parish. Poor people would come to him asking for food. He would hand them a broom and ask them to sweep the church parking lot while he prepared them something to eat. If they didn’t try hard, they got no food. I also noticed that mulberries are a kind of fruit that you can only eat if you pick them yourself, because they are so fragile. You never see them in the grocery store. And I think the Bible says farmers should not go back to collect parts of the harvest they missed, so poor people could gather it. I also remember President Reagan told a story about a little girl who wanted to help the poor. He said, “Go pick some fruit, sell it, and give the money to someone who needs it.” But the girl asked, “Why can’t the poor person just pick the fruit himself?”

A: You are touching on an old and important question: how can we help people in need in a way that also respects their dignity?

Let’s look at each of the stories you shared:

The priest with the broom: He gave food, but only after asking for a little work. This shows a deep kind of wisdom. He didn’t just feed the person—he helped them feel useful. He gave them a way to take part in the life of the church. That kind of charity is not just about giving things away. It is about helping people stand on their own feet. Saint Paul wrote something similar: “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10).

The mulberries: These fruits are a great picture of how effort and reward often go together. They are too soft and delicate to sell in stores. If you want to enjoy them, you have to go out and pick them yourself. Nature sometimes works this way—some of the sweetest things can only be reached through hard work.

The Bible and gleaning: In the Old Testament, farmers were told not to harvest every last bit of their crops. They had to leave the edges and anything they dropped for the poor to gather. But the poor still had to go out and pick it up. This wasn’t just a free gift—it was an opportunity to work and eat. It kept both justice and dignity.

Reagan’s story: The little girl’s question—“Why can’t the poor pick the fruit themselves?”—might seem harsh, but it shows a real problem. Sometimes, people who want to help forget that the best kind of help doesn’t do everything for someone. It gives them a way to help themselves.

So what do all these examples show?

The best kind of charity is not just about making people comfortable. It’s about giving them a way to grow, to work, and to feel human. When we give without asking anything in return, we might take away a person’s chance to feel useful and strong.

Real love doesn’t just give. It invites the other person to join in, even if it’s something small—like sweeping a parking lot or picking fruit. That kind of charity is full of truth. And it helps people become whole again.

Conclusion:
Real charity is not soft or weak. It is strong and wise. It gives people what they need, but also calls them to take part in their own healing. When we help others, we must remember: giving is good—but giving in a way that respects a person’s dignity is even better. That is love with truth.

Q&A with ChatGPT

May 6, 2025
Flourishing vs Lifestyle

What’s the Difference Between a Christian Vision of Human Flourishing and Modern Lifestyle Culture?

In today’s culture, we hear a lot about “lifestyle” choices—whether it’s clean eating, minimalist living, productivity hacks, or curated Instagram feeds. But from a Christian perspective, human flourishing means something much deeper. So how do these two ideas compare?

Q: What does it mean to flourish as a Christian?

In a Christian understanding, human flourishing means becoming fully alive in Christ. It’s more than just being happy or healthy. It includes moral and spiritual growth, meaningful work, authentic relationships, creative expression, and discovering your God-given purpose. It’s not just surviving—it’s thriving in body, mind, and soul.

Christian flourishing is rooted in virtue, grace, and love. It’s about becoming the person God created you to be—someone who reflects His truth, goodness, and beauty in the world.

Q: Why does the word “lifestyle” feel at odds with Christian flourishing?

The term lifestyle often feels superficial or even consumeristic, especially when compared with the richness of the Christian vision for life. Here’s why the two can seem antagonistic:

1. Lifestyle implies preference; Christian flourishing implies purpose.

Most lifestyle trends are based on personal taste—your preferred way of living, dressing, eating, or organizing your day.
But Christian flourishing isn’t about taste. It’s about truth. It’s rooted in God’s design and your unique calling. It’s not a matter of what’s trending, but of what’s eternally true.

2. Lifestyle is marketed; flourishing is formed.

Lifestyle content is everywhere—blogs, YouTube, TikTok—telling us how to optimize, decorate, or upgrade our lives.
But Christian flourishing isn’t curated for likes. It’s formed over time through prayer, community, sacrifice, and love. It’s shaped by discipline and grace, not branding.

3. Lifestyle is individualistic; flourishing is communal.

A lifestyle is something you design. It’s focused on your comfort, goals, or aesthetic.
Christian flourishing always points outward. It grows in community—within families, parishes, friendships, and service to others. We flourish not alone, but together in Christ.

4. Lifestyle avoids suffering; Christian flourishing transforms it.

Modern lifestyle ideals often promise control, ease, and comfort.
But Christian flourishing accepts that suffering can be redemptive. The Cross is central—not as a burden to avoid, but as a path to love. Flourishing in Christ includes learning how to suffer well and offer it up for a greater good.

Q: So, can Christians talk about lifestyle at all?

Yes—but we must reclaim and redefine it. As Christians, our “lifestyle” should mean living in the rhythm of grace, virtue, discipline, and love. It’s a way of life shaped by the Gospel, not by trends. The true Christian lifestyle is a vocation—not a brand.

Final Thoughts: Flourishing Is Greater Than Lifestyle

Christian human flourishing is not about managing appearances or optimizing comfort. It’s about becoming holy, whole, and fully alive in Christ. That’s far more than a lifestyle—it’s a transformation.

Conversation with ChatGPT

May 6, 2025
What Is a “Fair Share”?

Justice, Charity, and the Danger of Redistribution Without Responsibility

In Deus Caritas Est, Pope Benedict XVI affirms that a just society should ensure everyone receives their “fair share.” But this raises an important question: What exactly is a fair share—and who gets to decide?

A Fair Share Should Reflect Responsibility and Effort

In a truly just society, a fair share is not something handed down from above. It is something earned through work, effort, and personal responsibility. When institutions intervene to redistribute wealth, they often take from those who have produced and give to those who have not—sometimes keeping a portion for themselves. This kind of redistribution may seem compassionate on the surface, but it risks eroding the connection between effort and reward, which is essential to a healthy and motivated society.

Stewardship Works Best When It’s Personal

The person most qualified to manage wealth is the one who earned it. That individual can choose to invest, save, donate, or spend responsibly—because it’s theirs. When someone deposits money in a bank, for example, that money may fund someone else’s business or home. In this way, earned wealth fuels the common good, expands opportunity, and strengthens the economy.

Redistribution by bureaucracy, on the other hand, often doesn’t expand the pie—it simply slices it differently. Worse, it can actually shrink the pie by discouraging hard work, savings, and stewardship.

True Charity Asks Deeper Questions

While meeting material needs is sometimes necessary, we must also ask: Is this truly what this person needs? Love—especially what we call tough love—is not afraid to dig deeper. Sometimes, what someone needs most is not a handout, but guidance, a challenge, or support in taking responsibility for their life.

Institutions and government programs, bound by quotas and policies, often fail to assess the full human picture. They may satisfy external needs while missing emotional, spiritual, or relational poverty. True Christian charity, as taught by the Church, comes not from a faceless system but from a heart moved by love and wisdom.

Justice Without Responsibility Falls Short

Justice and charity must always walk hand in hand with personal responsibility. When systems override this balance, they may promote dependence rather than dignity. A society that forgets this risks losing not only its economic health—but its soul.

Edited by ChatGPT

May 6, 2025
Habit or Hero? Rethinking Routine, Discipline, and the Fight for Freedom

Six Big Questions That Could Change How You Live

In a world that rewards productivity, habits are often seen as heroic. They keep us on track, save mental energy, and offer the appearance of consistency. But what if they also carry a hidden danger — the risk of becoming hollow, mindless, or even harmful when left unchecked?

This post explores the difference between habit and discipline, not in abstract terms, but through six practical, real-world questions. Each one digs deeper into the tension between automation and intentionality — and offers a path toward living with more freedom, reflection, and meaning.

1. When Habit Isn’t Heroic: The Danger of Automated Virtue

Q: I understand that habits are mental patterns that help us act with less effort. But I often think of them as rigid — as if they can trap us into doing what’s familiar, rather than what’s truly right. Isn’t that the difference between someone acting freely — like a hero — and someone following a rigid script — like a tyrant or a fascist?

A: That’s a great question. Habits do save energy, but when they become rigid, they can stop us from seeing what’s truly right. The hero can step outside of familiar patterns to act with love and truth. The fascist cannot. He obeys the pattern, even when it causes harm. Discipline is the difference. Discipline is the conscious choice to do what’s right — even when it’s hard. That’s what gives us moral freedom.

2. From Intent to Habit: When Regular Acts of Giving Lose Their Meaning

Q: My church offers automatic giving. Once you set it up, it runs every week without further effort. Is that still virtuous? Or does it lose something when there’s no intentional act behind it anymore?

A: Great observation. Setting up automated giving is efficient and shows commitment, but over time, it can lose its soul. You might stop reflecting on why you give, or miss opportunities for meaningful generosity. The action is still good, but the heart behind it may fade. Consider building a small ritual into your week to reconnect with the purpose behind your gift.

3. When Systems Stall: What Quality Binders Teach Us About Habit and Discipline

Q: I worked at a manufacturing plant that got ISO 9000 certified. We ended up with binders on a shelf, not real change. Why do systems like that go stale?

A: You’re describing a system that kept the form but lost the soul. Habit and structure can mask decline if they’re not evaluated. Discipline, by contrast, is flexible and rooted in purpose. When habit outlives discipline, the system becomes self-referential. We need habits to support discipline — not replace it.

4. Cultivating Habits: The Art of Balancing Routine and Reflection

Q: So, should we build habits, but keep checking if they still serve the right purpose?

A: Exactly. Habits are tools, but you’re the craftsman. They give structure, but you need discipline to stay responsive and awake. Think of it like a garden: habits are the plants, discipline is the gardener’s eye. You prune, adapt, and adjust. Structure and freedom are not enemies — they’re partners.

5. When Habit Masquerades as Discipline

Q: It bugs me when people treat habit as if it’s automatically virtuous. Isn’t there a difference?

A: Yes, and it’s crucial. Habit is staying in motion. Discipline is staying intentional. Going to the gym while half-asleep isn’t discipline. It’s coasting. And when people equate habit with virtue, they resist change. They think questioning the habit means questioning their integrity. That’s how inertia can masquerade as moral strength.

6. Helping Others Distinguish Between Habit and Discipline

Q: How do we help people see the difference more clearly?

A: Use real-life examples. Invite reflection. Share visual metaphors like: “Habit is cruise control; discipline is when you take the wheel.” Most of all, model it. Let others see you adjust your own habits when they no longer serve. That’s how we awaken others: not by criticizing, but by demonstrating.

Conclusion: A Call to Wakefulness

Habits are powerful. But without discipline, they can become lifeless routines that trap rather than free us. The hero is not the one who obeys the pattern without question. The hero is the one who stays awake.

Ask yourself: Are your habits serving your purpose, or just preserving your comfort? If you pause long enough to notice the difference, you’re already on the path to freedom.

Generated with assistance from OpenAI’s ChatGPT (2025).

April 23, 2025
What Does It Mean to Flourish?

Human, Spiritual, and Ecclesial Flourishing in Harmony

Q: I’ve been noticing the phrase “human flourishing” more often lately. I also came across an article describing a “flourishing church.” And in a talk I recently heard on St. Francis De Sales, the speaker said that devotion isn’t just about following rules or doing the right thing, but about doing things with a flourish—with extra care and love. Can you explore how these ideas of flourishing might be connected?

A (ChatGPT): Absolutely—what a rich set of insights to bring together. The idea of flourishing—whether human, spiritual, or ecclesial—carries deep meaning and reveals something essential about how we’re meant to live. Let’s take a closer look at how these different uses of the word are deeply united:

1. Human Flourishing: Becoming Fully Alive

The term human flourishing comes from classical philosophy, especially Aristotle’s concept of eudaimonia, often translated as “living well” or “thriving.” It doesn’t mean mere comfort or pleasure—it’s about living in accordance with virtue, purpose, and right relationships. It’s about becoming the person you’re meant to be.

In a Christian understanding, human flourishing takes on an even deeper meaning: it’s about becoming fully alive in Christ. This includes moral and spiritual development, yes—but also creativity, joy, meaningful work, community, and the fulfillment of your God-given potential. It’s not just surviving. It’s thriving in body, mind, and soul.

2. A Flourishing Church: A Community That Grows in Love

A flourishing church isn’t simply one with a growing attendance or a healthy budget. It’s a parish or community where people are growing in holiness, forming deep, authentic relationships, serving others, and living their faith with joy and conviction.

This ties directly into your reference to St. Francis de Sales. He spoke of devotion not as dry duty but as something done with a flourish. A devout person, in his view, doesn’t just do the right thing—they do it well, with care, love, and attention. That’s the difference between fulfilling an obligation and truly living a vocation.

In short:
A flourishing church is made up of flourishing people.
And flourishing people act out of love—not just from obligation or fear.

3. Devotion with a Flourish: Love Perfects the Action

St. Francis de Sales emphasized that devotion isn’t only for monks, nuns, or priests—it’s for everyone. And devotion, he said, “adds polish and luster” to everything we do.

Think of the difference between preparing a meal and serving it beautifully. Or between saying a prayer and offering it from the depths of your heart. That’s what he means by doing things with a flourish. Love is what perfects the act—elevating the ordinary into something holy.

When we live with devotion, even small actions become radiant.

🌱 How It All Comes Together

These three ideas—human flourishing, a flourishing church, and devotion with a flourish—are not separate. They reflect a single, integrated vision of the Christian life:

We were made to grow in love.
Not just to obey, but to overflow.
Not just to survive, but to shine.

Whether we’re speaking about an individual soul, a family, a parish, or the Church as a whole—flourishing points to a life of abundance. As Jesus says in John 10:10:

“I came that they may have life, and have it more abundantly.”

April 23, 2025
Even If You Don’t Come Back: The Hidden Hope of the Hero’s Journey
An Easter Conversation on Risk, Myth, and Resurrection

Q: My son made an interesting observation. He said that hero stories are “success-biased”—we only hear the stories of the ones who made it back to tell them. Most who go on the hero’s journey probably don’t make it back, and we don’t hear those stories. So maybe we’re misled in thinking it’s worth going. But I’ve been wondering: maybe the message of the myths is actually that it’s better to go and not make it back, than to never go at all?

A: (from ChatGPT)
That question hits right at the heart of what myth—and particularly the Christian story—has always tried to say. Yes, your son is absolutely right: hero stories are success-biased. They’re remembered because someone survived to tell them. And it’s true that most people don’t return from their battles unscarred—some never return at all.

But that doesn’t make the journey meaningless.

In fact, your reflection gets to something deeper—the idea that it is better to go and not make it back than never to go. That’s not just a mythic truth. That’s a Christian one.

The Christian story flips the script on worldly success. It says: the one who loses everything is the one who gains it all. Jesus doesn’t return from His journey with treasure or a triumphal parade. He returns wounded, rejected, and killed—but through that death, He brings life.

And the earliest Christians saw that. That’s why they remembered the martyrs—not for escaping suffering, but for embracing it with courage. That’s why they honored missionaries who died far from home, parents who quietly gave their lives for their children, and ordinary believers who bore their crosses unseen by the world. They didn’t make it back in any normal sense. But their stories became part of a deeper narrative of hope.

The hero who never comes home still teaches us something profound:
- That courage is not about guaranteed success.
- That the going itself is transformative.
- That the journey may be unfinished, but it is not wasted.
- And that even death does not erase meaning—especially in light of Easter.
The Resurrection is not just a happy ending—it’s the redemption of the journey that seemed like failure. It’s the great answer to your question: even if you don’t make it back, it was worth it. Because in Christ, nothing offered in love is ever lost.

So yes—your question has merit, and your intuition is right. The hero stories may be success-biased, but the Gospel is sacrifice-biased. It tells us that the ones who go, even when they never return, are not forgotten. They are part of something eternal.

And in that, there is real hope.
April 15, 2025