Walking The Red Road: Loneliness & Faith

Every seeker of truth is on a lean journey.??We are constantly cutting through the confusion, obscurations, distortions, and distractions in life to reconnect, refocus, and recommit to what truly matters.??The Native Americans talk about the two roads in life – the black road and the red road.??The black road is wide and easy to walk at first – you don’t really have to pay much attention, but it gets harder and harder as you go.??The red road, on the other hand, is very difficult to navigate at first – you really have to pay attention and make and effort, but it gets easier as you go.??This is the lean path, the hero’s path – it is walking the red road.

Walking the red road requires the champion to hold the tension of loneliness and use that pressure to cultivate a much greater faith.??When things are going well, there is a lot of support and external validation on the lean path.??However, when things get difficult, when others get uncomfortable with what true leadership and transformation really mean, then it can get lonely at best and hostile at worst.??As Gandhi said, “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, and then you win.” This has been so true in my experience.??A real leader is meant to drive change.??A real champion is meant to fight for a noble cause.??Both of these require the humility and persistence I wrote about last week, as well as an capacity to be alone in the world at times.??All of this takes time and it can weight heavily on even the best of us.??

No matter your personal beliefs, a champion needs a stronger foundation than most.??This can come from a solid mentor, some meaningful spiritual discipline, immersing yourself in the writings of past masters, or a regular practice of deep introspection.??Regardless, you need some way of keeping the faith – some way of embracing a greater purpose – some way of knowing that you are a key part of a great lineage of seekers of truth.???As Joseph Campbell said, “We have not to risk the adventure alone, for the heroes of all time have gone before us.??The labyrinth is thoroughly known.??We have only to follow the thread of the hero’s path.”