Today I feel like I just need a break. A friend saw Kubo and The Two Strings a couple of days ago and recommended it. I know absolutely nothing about it, but on a whim, I ask Tywana if she wants to go see a matinee this afternoon. So, off we go.
We get to the theater and there are exactly two other people there when the movie is about to start. I love seeing movies where I know as little as possible about them, it makes the adventure all the more intriguing. The movie starts and I am immediately taken by the animation. The story begins with our hero in trouble.
Kubo and the Two Strings is a classic Joseph Campbell hero’s journey. I hadn’t heard of this until a couple of months ago at church where the concept was introduced during a sermon. Once I knew the template I realized you could overlay it on just about every movie or television show ever made. In short, hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.
I won’t ruin the story of Kubo anymore than I already have, but as I was reflecting on the movie I realized the reason we are so drawn to this narrative is is the story of each of us. We are on that journey, we are far from home, facing perils, testing ourselves, looking for and receiving supernatural aid along the way, and one day we will return home, victorious after having completed our quest.
This is something I have to remind myself of quite often. The thing that has been added to our quest though is we have forgotten who we are. We can’t even remember home. I saw a meme yesterday that read “The gods conceal from men the happiness of death, that they may endure life.” It was one of those “Ah-ha” moments for moments for me. People often ask: “If reincarnation is true, why can’t we remember our past lives? If we were pre-existent, why can’t we recall life before we arrived here?” The answer is simple. If we could remember how great it is to be home, when the going got tough here, it’d be way too tempting to bail. I know when I’m having a bad dream, I can usually just wake myself out of it, knowing that when I leave the dream I’ll be safe back in my bed.
So, for today, it’s time to lace up the boots and continue on the quest. I don’t know what today or tomorrow will bring, but I know that ultimately I’ll return Home, victorious.
Oh, one little synchronicity. Just this past week I bought two versions of “While My Guitar Gently Sleeps” one by Carlos Santana, Yoyo Ma and India.Arie and one by Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne and Prince. Then, during the closing credits of Kubo and Two Strings they played… While My Guitar Gently Weeps
