The Odyssey

After 2 1/2 months of dragging my feet, I have finally finished reading this literary classic. Heather bought me a beautiful copy for my birthday. I really love the movie "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou", and since it is loosely based on the Odyssey, I really wanted to read the original story.

To be fair, I read most of it in the last week or so. The trouble was that I didn't ever spend enough time reading at each sitting. Since it is a translation of a story written 3000 years ago, the wording can be a bit difficult at times, but if you keep at it long enough, it begins to flow.

It was fascinating to me to be reading something so old, and yet connecting with the characters so easily. I really felt for Odysseus on his quest to get home. I really hated the men who were desecrating his house and using up all of his livestock and wine with their constant partying. I was sad for Penelope as she waited for her husband's return, I was angry for Telemacus as he watched his inheritance getting wasted.

The actual story was fun, but a little drawn out. What I really enjoyed about the book was the insight into the ancient Greek culture. One thing in particular that stuck out to me was how travelers or vagrants were treated. It was continually emphasised that these people were to be accepted and taken care of; this was important because it pleased the gods. Not only that, but it was known that the gods themselves often traveled in disguise, and you never knew who it was that you were taking in. I believe there is a bible verse about entertaining strangers because you never know when they may be God's messengers. When Odysseus would arrive in a new town, he was taken in, fed, and washed before they even heard his story.

What a great ideal to treat strangers and travelers with such care and respect. Why don't we do this today? Our streets are filled with homeless people that are in transit from one place to another. The sad thing is that I am not fully comfortable with this idea. I'm afraid that if I take someone into my house, they might want to come back and rob me, or somehow take advantage of me.

I remember once in Salt Lake there was a man going around doing odd jobs to help feed his family. On this occasion I paid him some money to mow my lawn and clean my car. He came inside and I gave him a drink, then he went on his way. A couple of days later he showed up to do more work, and I told him I didn't have any work for him. A few days later he was waiting at our house when Heather got home from work (an experience that kind of freaked her out since she had no idea who he was). We didn't ever see him again, but the whole experience left me with a bad feeling about inviting strangers into my home.

But maybe we should be doing it anyway. As far as I know helping the poor is one of the biggest mandates of Christianity. Honestly I am still not willing to open up my house as they did in the days of Odysseus, perhaps that is why I haven't run into any angels recently.

JE