Joseph Campbell has said:
“With the personifications of his destiny to guide and aid him, the hero goes forward in his adventure until he comes to the ‘threshold guardian’ at the entrance to the zone of magnified power. Such custodians bound the world in four directions—also up and down—standing for the limits of the hero’s present sphere, or life horizon. Beyond them is darkness, the unknown and danger; just as beyond the parental watch is danger to the infant and beyond the protection of his society danger to the members of the tribe. The usual person is more than content, he is even proud, to remain within the indicated bounds, and popular belief gives him every reason to fear so much as the first step into the unexplored. The adventure is always and everywhere a passage beyond the veil of the known into the unknown; the powers that watch at the boundary are dangerous; to deal with them is risky; yet for anyone with competence and courage the danger fades.”
Nearly three years ago I stood at just such a threshold. Behind me was the world of my youth, a place of comfort and security. A land of perfect predictability. Before me was a great unknown. A world of uncertainty, possibly even danger. But there was the promise of something glorious there. A treasure that I’d yearned for in secret for some time. And so, with trepidation, I took a step.
I write this from beyond the threshold, from within the unknown lands.
I was born and raised a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Mormons. I was also born with eyes that saw the world differently. And three years ago I took a risk, took that first step, when I fell in love with another boy.
Today, that boy is gone. I have come out to friends, family, and facebook. And I traverse the uncharted lands of being gay and Mormon. It is challenging and daunting. But I’ve seen glorious things I never thought I’d see.
