The Ferrymen of the heart

In Greek mythology the souls of the dead were thought to have to cross the rivers Styx and Acheron before getting to Hades - a journey from life to death as it were. To help them get across to the other shore these souls had to pay a toll, usually in the shape of a coin, to the ferryman Cheron. Those who could not afford the toll were presumed to have to wander about the shore in despair for a hundred years.

I write about this myth because in many ways it epitomizes the journey faced by many a soul today. There are a few differences of course: today the journey would go in the other direction. The souls start off on the shore of quasi-death, the state of being spiritually and emotionally moribund, and their crossing ends on the brighter shore of life where man and woman can finally be true to the best that is in them.

Alas today we have no Cheron and his thankless task is often delegated to unwitting mortals who just happen to cross the path of such a soul. The former are taken in by the latter and they listen attentively to tales of the brighter life that awaits on the other shore. They apply themselves to the assembly of a suitable barge and look forward to the day that they can attempt the crossing.

Many days, months and even years are invested in the endeavour and as the day of the crossing approaches the elation is palpable and their sense of purpose is at its zenith. Soon enough they find themselves painstakingly rowing the barge towards the other side. Every stroke of the oar that breaks the surface of the water is seen as a step closer to a new life.

When the barge finally reaches the pier on the other side it soon becomes apparent that things are not going to go quite as planned. The previously tormented soul is now aloof and vibrant and walks about with an air of indignation at any allusion that the other had any say in the crossing. They are reminded that they were simply the means to get to the other side.

"Take the barge whilst it is still seaworthy and row it back to the other side. There are plenty of other souls who may need to make the crossing to this shore and, if you are lucky enough, one of them might even ask you to stay. I have to go, there is so much I have to do now that I am finally on the living side of life; I cannot possibly waste much more time here. Make haste, Ferryman, a hundred years is really not that long. Oh, here is your coin before I forget."