The Heroes Journey The Heroes Journey as a Metaphor of the as a Metaphor of the Leader’s Journey into Leader’s Journey into Calling and IdentityCalling and Identity

Frank Markow, Ph.D.Frank Markow, Ph.D.

Life Pacific CollegeLife Pacific College

Research QuestionsResearch Questions

How is one's identity as a leader shaped by his or How is one's identity as a leader shaped by his or her sense of calling?her sense of calling?

How do leaders experience and explain their sense of calling?

What are the antecedents and contextual elements of calling?

What contextual factors (e.g., significant relationships, organizational support, environment, etc.) impact the development of leader's sense of

call?

Literature Review -Calling in the Literature Review -Calling in the Christian TraditionChristian Tradition

►Central to the Christian interpretations Central to the Christian interpretations of vocation is "the idea that there is of vocation is "the idea that there is something - my vocation or calling - something - my vocation or calling - God has called me to do with my life, God has called me to do with my life, and my life has meaning and purpose and my life has meaning and purpose at least in part because I am fulfilling at least in part because I am fulfilling my purpose" (Plachard, 2005, p. 2)my purpose" (Plachard, 2005, p. 2)

Dimensions of Calling in the Dimensions of Calling in the Leadership and Career LiteratureLeadership and Career Literature

Various writers have identified dimensions of calling. Dobrow (2004), Weiss et al (2004), Novak (1996) and McNeal (2000) have described the following as aspects of a personal sense of calling:

1. Passion for one's work that energizes and sustains2. Identity centers on their sense of calling3. Sustains over the life of the individual4. Consumes the ambitions and goals of one's life5. Gives meaning to work and this meaning is self-

relevant6. “Fits" one's skills and abilities7. For service of the community8. Unique to the individual9. Discovered through reflection, prayer, feedback

from others and trial activities

Using Narrative to Understand Using Narrative to Understand IdentityIdentity

►Since calling is intrinsic to one’s identity, theories of identity in general, and narrative identity in particular are useful means at getting at the phenomenological experience of being called

►Sarbin (1986) proposed what he calls the narratory principle, the idea that human beings think, perceive, imagine, interact and make moral choices according to narrative structures.

►Ricouer (1992) argues that the self only comes into being in the process of telling a life story.

Research MethodResearch Method

Research Participants Research Participants

► 12 one-on-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with pastors with a proven record of leadership ability demonstrated via lengthy and successful service, and who indicate that they have been called.

► The scope of these pastor’s responsibility (leadership level) ranged from smaller churches of 100 members, to mega churches with several thousand members and district-level leadership

Research MethodResearch Method

Interview ProtocolInterview Protocol

► Question 1: Life chapters / ministry career history. Question 1: Life chapters / ministry career history.

► Question 2: Key events - Question 2: Key events - critical or significant episodes, turning critical or significant episodes, turning points, epiphanies, etc. from each chapter of their storiespoints, epiphanies, etc. from each chapter of their stories

► Question 3: Significant people - Question 3: Significant people - particularly people who particularly people who intersected with their sense of calling. intersected with their sense of calling.

► Question 4: Future script - Question 4: Future script - plans, goals, aspirations, hopes, and plans, goals, aspirations, hopes, and dreams for the future that relate to one's ministry.dreams for the future that relate to one's ministry.

► Question 5: Life theme – Question 5: Life theme – a message or idea that ran throughout a message or idea that ran throughout the entirety of their narrative as previously described. (It was notable the entirety of their narrative as previously described. (It was notable that most self-described life themes had little resemblance to the that most self-described life themes had little resemblance to the previous stories.)previous stories.)

ResultsResults

1. Individual level themes1. Individual level themes Since everyone has a different life story, it Since everyone has a different life story, it

is not surprising that each story seemed to is not surprising that each story seemed to revolve around certain themes unique to revolve around certain themes unique to the individual.the individual.

In each individual case a specific issue In each individual case a specific issue presented itself and recurred throughout presented itself and recurred throughout the story in a "theme and variation" the story in a "theme and variation" pattern. pattern.

Individual level themesIndividual level themes

►Examples:Examples: Reconciliation with my fatherReconciliation with my father Finding someone to trustFinding someone to trust Breaking away from my motherBreaking away from my mother Changing “gangs”Changing “gangs” I’m an outcast with no friendsI’m an outcast with no friends Am I a musician or a pastor?Am I a musician or a pastor? Letting go of career aspirationsLetting go of career aspirations

Universal themesUniversal themes

Themes clustered into five Themes clustered into five discernable life stages.discernable life stages.

Stage 1 – Awaiting Pre-call antecedents / family / life

circumstances

Most felt that childhood was important because it Most felt that childhood was important because it often set the stage for latter events which were often set the stage for latter events which were germane to their call. germane to their call.

► Theme 1a. Congruous Early EnvironmentOR

► Theme 1b. Rebellion.

► Theme 1c. Early leadership opportunities.

Stage 2 – AwarenessRecognition of the call through spiritual

awakening or involvement

This second stage covers the years that This second stage covers the years that the participants typically became the participants typically became aware of the fact that they had a call.aware of the fact that they had a call.

► Theme 2a. Calling as an Theme 2a. Calling as an epiphany / supernatural signsepiphany / supernatural signs

OROR► Theme 2b. Calling as a by-Theme 2b. Calling as a by-

product of serving.product of serving.

Stage 3 – Actualization Realization of the call through experience,

mentoring, and /or preparation for vocational service

In this stage, the participants describe a series of In this stage, the participants describe a series of events, experiences, people or preparation events, experiences, people or preparation activities that supported the fulfillment of their activities that supported the fulfillment of their calling. These sub-themes are:calling. These sub-themes are:

► Theme 3a. Having a Personal Mentor ORTheme 3a. Having a Personal Mentor OR► Theme 3b. Mentored from Afar.Theme 3b. Mentored from Afar.► Theme 3c. College to Prepare ORTheme 3c. College to Prepare OR► Theme 3d. College to Discover.Theme 3d. College to Discover.► Theme 3e. Newfound Passion for ServingTheme 3e. Newfound Passion for Serving► Theme 3f. Success in ministry.Theme 3f. Success in ministry.► Theme 3g. Supernatural or Spiritual Theme 3g. Supernatural or Spiritual

Indicators.Indicators.

Stage 4 – AnguishingStruggle to separate from previous roles and

identities / dealing with "pre-call" stage issues

This next stage is characterized by two This next stage is characterized by two phenomena: phenomena: ► a personal conflict with a significant character in a personal conflict with a significant character in

their story (a mentor, parent, a pastor, etc.) andtheir story (a mentor, parent, a pastor, etc.) and► a struggle to release a previous role or identity. a struggle to release a previous role or identity.

► Theme 4a. Personal Conflict and Theme 4a. Personal Conflict and Release.Release.

► Theme 4b. Identity Conflict and Theme 4b. Identity Conflict and Release.Release.

Stage 5 – Stage 5 – AcceptanceAcceptanceIdentity integration and role merger of faith and Identity integration and role merger of faith and

work / subsequent wrestling with preferred roles / work / subsequent wrestling with preferred roles / possible selvespossible selves

This stage came primarily from the This stage came primarily from the portion of the narrative describing portion of the narrative describing their hopes and plans for the future, their hopes and plans for the future, the "next chapter" of their life stories.the "next chapter" of their life stories.

► Theme 5a. Satisfaction with Current Theme 5a. Satisfaction with Current RoleRole

OROR

► Theme 5b. Dissatisfaction with Theme 5b. Dissatisfaction with Current RoleCurrent Role

5 Stage Constructive 5 Stage Constructive Developmental Model of CallingDevelopmental Model of Calling

Stage 1Awaiting

Stage 2Awareness

Stage 3Actualizing Stage 4

Anguishing Stage 5Acceptance

Campbell’s Heroes JourneyCampbell’s Heroes Journey

►Campbell (1949) explores the theory Campbell (1949) explores the theory that important myths from around the that important myths from around the world that have survived for thousands world that have survived for thousands of years all share a fundamental of years all share a fundamental structure, which Campbell called the structure, which Campbell called the monomythmonomyth..

Campbell’s Monomyth Campbell’s Monomyth Structure:Structure:

Chapter 1Chapter 1

DepartureDepartureChapter 2 Chapter 2 InitiationInitiation

Chapter 3Chapter 3

ReturnReturn

The Call to AdventureThe Call to AdventureRefusal of the CallRefusal of the CallSupernatural AidSupernatural AidThe Crossing of the FirstThe Crossing of the FirstThresholdThresholdThe Belly of the WhaleThe Belly of the Whale

The Road of TrialsThe Road of TrialsThe Meeting with the GoddessThe Meeting with the GoddessWoman as TemptressWoman as TemptressAtonement with the FatherAtonement with the FatherApotheosisApotheosisThe Ultimate BoonThe Ultimate Boon

Refusal of the ReturnRefusal of the Return

The Magic FlightThe Magic Flight

Rescue from WithoutRescue from Without

The Crossing of the The Crossing of the Return Threshold Return Threshold

Master of the Two Master of the Two WorldsWorlds

Freedom to LiveFreedom to Live

How do the 5 Stages align with the How do the 5 Stages align with the Monomyth?Monomyth?

DepartureDeparture The Call to AdventureThe Call to Adventure

Calling often sensed in ordinary circumstances of life – church, camp, etc.Calling often sensed in ordinary circumstances of life – church, camp, etc.

Refusal of the CallRefusal of the Call Rebellion from parents values / church lifeRebellion from parents values / church life Stronger identification with secular work / roleStronger identification with secular work / role

Supernatural AidSupernatural Aid Finding a mature mentor (either personal of national level figure)Finding a mature mentor (either personal of national level figure) Epiphanies, visions, Holy Spirit Epiphanies, visions, Holy Spirit

The Crossing of the First ThresholdThe Crossing of the First Threshold Early leadership opportunitiesEarly leadership opportunities Beginning ministry service as a volunteerBeginning ministry service as a volunteer

The Belly of the WhaleThe Belly of the Whale If one clung to previous identity, this was a period of wrestling with this, struggle If one clung to previous identity, this was a period of wrestling with this, struggle

with sense of call to ministry, unhappiness with lifewith sense of call to ministry, unhappiness with life

InitiationInitiation► The Road of TrialsThe Road of Trials

Conflict with a nemesis – mother, father, pastorConflict with a nemesis – mother, father, pastor Ambiguity of life’s directionAmbiguity of life’s direction

► The Meeting with the GoddessThe Meeting with the Goddess Marriage(?). Usually very little detail offeredMarriage(?). Usually very little detail offered

► Woman as TemptressWoman as Temptress N/AN/A

► Atonement with the FatherAtonement with the Father Often a reconciliation with a a father or father figure (boss, pastor, etc.) Often a reconciliation with a a father or father figure (boss, pastor, etc.)

which is a significant turning pointwhich is a significant turning point

► Apotheosis (breakthrough expansion of consciousness)Apotheosis (breakthrough expansion of consciousness) The rejection of the previous identityThe rejection of the previous identity Sacrifice of prior dreams to embrace the call to ministrySacrifice of prior dreams to embrace the call to ministry Full acceptance of the call, moving forward with plans for vocational Full acceptance of the call, moving forward with plans for vocational

ministryministry

► The Ultimate BoonThe Ultimate Boon Feelings of success in ministryFeelings of success in ministry

ReturnReturn

► Refusal of the ReturnRefusal of the Return N/A – usually N/A – usually eagereager to return / be involved in ministry to return / be involved in ministry

► The Magic FlightThe Magic Flight Subsequent wrestling with ministry expression, how calling is to work Subsequent wrestling with ministry expression, how calling is to work

itself out, struggles in college, temptation back to secular vocations, itself out, struggles in college, temptation back to secular vocations, etc.etc.

► Rescue from WithoutRescue from Without Confirmation of calling from others / mentorsConfirmation of calling from others / mentors

► The Crossing of the Return Threshold The Crossing of the Return Threshold Entry into vocational ministry as one calledEntry into vocational ministry as one called

► Master of the Two WorldsMaster of the Two Worlds Feelings of God-sustaining ability to overcome challenges in the worldFeelings of God-sustaining ability to overcome challenges in the world

► Freedom to LiveFreedom to Live One lives free in the sense of callingOne lives free in the sense of calling

Aligning the 5 Stages with Aligning the 5 Stages with MonomythMonomyth

Departure Initiation Return

Stage 1Awaiting Stage 1

Awareness Stage 1Actualizing Stage 1

Anguishing

Stage 1Acceptance

PostscriptPostscript

►While typical narrative structures end While typical narrative structures end with nice, happy ending, the reality of with nice, happy ending, the reality of lived stories is that they are still lived stories is that they are still incomplete and thus have rarely incomplete and thus have rarely reached the happy ending.reached the happy ending.

►Most participants expressed Most participants expressed ambivalence about their current role, ambivalence about their current role, were still questioning if they were in were still questioning if they were in the right place, etc.the right place, etc.

Ongoing narrativeOngoing narrative

Stage 1Awaiting Stage 2

Awareness Stage 3Actualizing Stage 4

Anguishing

Stage 5Acceptance

The key to contentment versus dissatisfaction in the current role

may be in how identity and relational conflict issues were dealt

with in stage 4. Dissatisfactionleads to persistent revisiting of

previous stage issues

DiscussionDiscussion

► Existing definitions infuse calling with many Existing definitions infuse calling with many positive and noble ideals such as meaning, positive and noble ideals such as meaning, purpose, passion, work with special value, purpose, passion, work with special value, commitment to career, uncovered personal commitment to career, uncovered personal destinies, true understanding of self, and destinies, true understanding of self, and metacompetencies, (e.g. Filley, House & Kerr, metacompetencies, (e.g. Filley, House & Kerr, 1976, Fleischman, 1994; Fry, 2003; Hall, Zhu & 1976, Fleischman, 1994; Fry, 2003; Hall, Zhu & Yan, 2002; McNeal, 2000; Novak, 1996; Palmer, Yan, 2002; McNeal, 2000; Novak, 1996; Palmer, 1999). 1999).

► This research suggests that these are only This research suggests that these are only tangentially part of one’s understanding of calling. tangentially part of one’s understanding of calling. Individuals typically dwelt over stories of conflict, Individuals typically dwelt over stories of conflict, struggled to relinquish previous hopes and struggled to relinquish previous hopes and dreams, struggled with personal demons, and dreams, struggled with personal demons, and

questioned where they were going in life.questioned where they were going in life.

DiscussionDiscussion

► A calling is more often seen as a source of ongoing A calling is more often seen as a source of ongoing challenge: a challenge to overcome, persist in the challenge: a challenge to overcome, persist in the face of obstacles, breach the personal on social face of obstacles, breach the personal on social conventions that one has come to know, accept an conventions that one has come to know, accept an identity that challenges and reconfigures previous identity that challenges and reconfigures previous self-conceptions, and to find contentment in one's self-conceptions, and to find contentment in one's role. role.

► A more sober definition of calling in light of the A more sober definition of calling in light of the evidence uncovered would suggest that a calling is: evidence uncovered would suggest that a calling is:

An ongoing process by which one comes to terms with An ongoing process by which one comes to terms with and overcomes both interpersonal conflicts with and overcomes both interpersonal conflicts with

significant others, and intrapersonal conflicts with significant others, and intrapersonal conflicts with the self over competing identities, the result of the self over competing identities, the result of which is the removal of barriers which would which is the removal of barriers which would

otherwise prevent them from finding personal otherwise prevent them from finding personal sense of destiny and purpose in life.sense of destiny and purpose in life.