The Odyssey

I have recently spent a few days staying in a Welsh cottage where there was no internet, no phone signal, and the television didn’t work. Thanks to some very well-hidden instructions on how to light the wood-burner, we spent our first night in a thick Victorian smog with all the windows open. At least the fire alarm stopped after informing all the neighbours! 

To compensate for things that didn’t work, there was plenty of extremely hot water. Although these included the shower, you could have easily cooked a kipper in the bath. We completed a 1000-piece puzzle, read the books we had brought with us, explored the garden and talked to each other.

A journey home can sometimes take so much longer than you expect. This time, I was reminded how, after achieving victory in the Trojan war, Odysseus struggled for ten years to return to his home and family on the Greek island of Ithaca. As this story is also about Odysseus’ relationship with Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, this account written by Homer in 7^th Century BC is still relevant today.

During his voyage of many dangers, Odysseus and his crew encountered Sirens. These exceptionally beautiful women enticed unsuspecting sailors onto the rocks and certain death through the attraction of their singing. Forewarned through his relationship with Athena, Odysseus knew his limitations. Instead of overestimating his strength, Odysseus asked his crew to tie him to the ship’s mast until the danger passed.

Sirens of today are not difficult to imagine. For some of us, these could be related to the distractions and values of modern-day life. Sirens could be in our priorities, that drive for success, and in our characters.  Sirens undermine our values, distract us from our purpose, lead us onto the rocks and make us so much less a person than we might otherwise be.

To compensate, we have our relationship with wisdom, and the humility to accept that sometimes a rope is required to tie us to the mast. Our ropes may be related to reason, or an honest acceptance of morality echoed through our many faith traditions. Loyalty to wisdom allows us to learn from experience, remain fixed to the mast and, just like Odysseus, eventually complete our journey.

Sarah Griffin