We All Need Adventure

 

Grail Lore and Adventurism in the Human Psyche

My brother bought me a replica of the Grail Diary from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

The family met for breakfast at my favorite restaurant the other day. I had a birthday recently so the gift had a purpose. It came in a faux leather binder and the same wrapper that Henry sent to Indiana from prison in Germany. I’ve always loved the movie, not to mention grail lore. Literature is full of references to the grail. From early stories about its search and the Knights of the Round Table to the boys from Monty Python. Nelson Demille wrote a book years ago called Quest. In it, a trio of expats (2 Americans 1 Englishman) take up the search for the illusive cup of Christ. He wrote the book in 1975 originally, but increased the length and reissued the story in 2013.

I read the later version and loved it.

Artifacts for Ancients

What is it about the search for sacred artifacts from antiquity that excite the mind? For some it’s the ‘magic’ of the pieces themselves. The selling of antiques connected to the disciples got out of control in the middle ages. Supposed body parts of disciples and bones of saints were commonly sold. Churches knew better than most how early Christians might react to supposedly sacred objects. They would assume some otherworldly power imbued the object itself. The high price put on rare objects as well, the biggest ‘proof’ of their worthiness. A local traveling con man might do alright with this kind of scam, but for local church officials to do likewise was an abomination. John Calvin became critical of the ‘worship’ of such relics but the practice continued. 

But just because of lot of them are fake doesn’t mean they all are. The Shroud of Turin is probably the most famous relic. The search for ancient, hidden pieces of antiquity has a long history as well. Most are either grave robbers seeking fortune or academics, hoping to add credibility to their efforts. A few believe in the magic of the piece itself.

Prestige for Collectors

Indiana Jones is an academic with a passion for adventure. His “It belongs in a museum” ethic views relics as public goods to be shared. The treasure hunter types like Donovan only care about the prestige of holding such a rare piece. Actually, Donavan is both grave robber and magic potion seeker. The prestige he craves is eternal life and not just the cup. 

Grail lore represents something larger in the human psyche, the search for the unobtainable or nearly impossible. The language even seeps into our pop culture. Industries have ‘holy grail’ awards, titles to which incredible feats are ascribed. In Physics it’s a theory of everything. In body building it’s the “Mr. Olympia” championship. In horse racing it’s the triple crown. It’s become a euphemism for a life-long journey of searching for excellence.

But holy grail mythology is less about finding the actual cup and more about keeping that sense of adventure alive. It’s escapism of the best kind. Instead of dulling the pain of everyday life with drugs or alcohol, when we put our imagination to work we become fully alive. When imagination is sparked the quest for meaning outside of ourselves burns bright. We all need an outside passion requiring effort and resource. We’re creative people with interests beyond the here and now. This is how God created us after all.

Adventure for Everyone

Adventure isn’t just for kids. It’s often dangerous or risky, forcing you out of your comfort zone. But it doesn’t have to mean skydiving or cliff jumping. You don’t need to sail around the world in a dinghy. You can find adventure in a mission’s trip to a poor country or a tour of ancient Greek ruins in Athens. I’m mostly interested in the kind of adventure that sparks passion. This is where life change happens. Discovery is the difference. You discover what you’re made of, and how you respond to stress and hardship. You find out your weaknesses, strengths and aspects of your character you’d rather keep hidden.

My trip to China qualifies. I remember how excited I was to take on a challenge alone in a foreign country. Teaching English was the job that got me into the country; adventure kept me going while there. From food to friendships and embarrassing moments, it all became a time that I look back on with pride. Not because I accomplished some amazing feat or became a different person, but because I took a risk. The first few months were lonely and confusing. I didn’t understand the customs and couldn’t communicate without gestures. Eventually I took more chances, traveled to more places and discovered a more confident version of myself.

Conclusion

I assumed the spirit of adventurism had passed in my mid twenties. But after seeing the silly grail diary and remembering my excitement toward travel, I feel the old passions rising up again. Is it just a fleeting sense of escapism or a recalled memory of a time when everything was possible? Maybe it’s a genuine sense that the passion of international affairs I always hoped to pursue is still alive and well. Maybe I should start my own diary.

“May He who illuminated this, illuminate me.” Dr. Henry Jones