In the opening lines of Homer’s The Odyssey, the central character Odysseus (Ulysses) is described as being “so ready at need.” The apt description derives from the clever and determined way Odysseus escapes dangers and solves problems.
The story of Odysseus’ ten-year return voyage after the fall of Troy has no shortage of obstacles for him to overcome, including some foolish acts by those in whom he places his trust, the warriors who fought with him at Troy. Throughout the epic, however, he keeps his eye on his ultimate goal to return to reclaim his former life.
Keeping an eye on a distant goal while one faces numerous obstacles is the challenge each of us faces. As we hear (or say), “Life gets in the way.” Daily tasks, harsh realities, and our own follies are distractions.
Odysseus doesn’t have an easy time achieving his goal. He has to cross open seas. That means he doesn’t have a road, some sort of Appian Way to travel, a path with clear signs, such as “Ithaca --> 100,000 stadia.”
Are you on open waters with no signs or on a specific, well-marked path? The route might be more challenging on the former than on the latter, but to reach your distant goal on either you would be wise to be “so ready at need.”
The story of Odysseus’ ten-year return voyage after the fall of Troy has no shortage of obstacles for him to overcome, including some foolish acts by those in whom he places his trust, the warriors who fought with him at Troy. Throughout the epic, however, he keeps his eye on his ultimate goal to return to reclaim his former life.
Keeping an eye on a distant goal while one faces numerous obstacles is the challenge each of us faces. As we hear (or say), “Life gets in the way.” Daily tasks, harsh realities, and our own follies are distractions.
Odysseus doesn’t have an easy time achieving his goal. He has to cross open seas. That means he doesn’t have a road, some sort of Appian Way to travel, a path with clear signs, such as “Ithaca --> 100,000 stadia.”
Are you on open waters with no signs or on a specific, well-marked path? The route might be more challenging on the former than on the latter, but to reach your distant goal on either you would be wise to be “so ready at need.”
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