The Hero's Quest

I am a video game junkie.  Though I have to admit that I am kind of picky about the video games I allow myself to form an addiction to, they have to be in the genre of the hero's quest.  I could care less about blowing up people, or stealing cars, but hand me a game that involves logical thinking and cute little characters out to save the princess and I am all over it.  My favorite is the Legend of Zelda series.  I LOVE those games.

Not only do those games involve strategy, they have a plot and subplots that offer a lot of interesting insight.

First, Link is always sent out on the quest, and it is always clear that Link is shocked by his selection.  He has no idea that he was called to something great, and is often ridiculed by other (more jealous) townspeople before and during his quest.  He doesn't expect it, and often looks like he doesn't want it, but off he goes to save the princess, because he has no choice.

This is not unlike the calling I have experienced.  Unlike Link, I ran from my calling for as long as I possibly could, but in the end, I have no choice but to follow.  Like link, I feel like a lot of people are unclear on why I was selected for the call I received.  I often wonder why I was selected for the call I received.

Second, while there is a main quest that involves rescuing the princess from certain danger, there are lots and lots of subquests that need to be accounted for as well.  You can't just leave the little girl lost with the demon, or the injured chick alone in the woods.  You have to bring them help, you have to bring them home.  It takes time, and energy and often many extra hours are added to the game play while you complete these mini quests, but Link is always rewarded, and miraculously he still makes it where he needs to be on time.

I know in the pursuit of my call, I am often impatient when I have to stop and deal with something else.  I am often looking for the quickest way to get to the next step.  But like Link, each of those "mini quests" provides me with a new piece of information, and often times something that is useful to me later on.

Third, each segment of the quest, physically gives Link something that manifests one of his attributes.  He is shown his courage, his strength, his heart, etc.  By the end of the quest when he has to fight the baddest of the bad guys, his confidence has been built, and he knows that he is capable of performing the tasks he was called to perform.

I don't often get a physical manifestation of the attributes I need to complete my calling, but I am often made aware of my skills and gifts after particularly trying events/challenges.  I am often faced with my inner strength, courage, wisdom, awareness, heart, etc. when I come through the other side of some challenge I have to endure.

Fourth, often while playing Link, I fail.  I fall off the cliff or I lose to the bad guy.  And I am forced to have to try again.  I don't just lose (I suppose I could give up), I am not even sent back to the beginning to start over.  I pick up where I left off, perhaps a little depleted on supplies, but ready to try again.

Isn't this life?  After a failure, I might fear being sent all the way back to square one, but more often than not, I am just a little worse for wear, I have learned what mistakes I shouldn't make, and perhaps with a detour to pick up some more supplies, I am ready to try again.

Who says that video games can't teach you anything.  :)