Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Voice

Percy Jackson has never met his father. He’s lived his entire life alone, without someone to call “Dad.” (This essay isn’t going to delve into his resentment towards his father. That’s not what I’m here to write about, and it doesn’t fit into the allegory.) He’s the son of a god, a god whom he has never seen. He has power beyond belief and the enemies to prove it.

He’s not ready. He thinks he’s an average, or maybe less-than-average, kid, hampered by dyslexia and ADHD. And his life does not include evading Furies, Medusa, Hydra, or the Lotus land of never-ending happiness. He’s not prepared. It’s not like every kid on the block spends time practicing sword-fighting and manipulating water.

But those skills are in his blood. It’s not something he can run away from. Despite this purpose, despite his unshakable lineage and pursuers, he’s not prepared. He may have certain skills that he was never taught, certain instincts that he knows without thinking. But he doesn’t know how to be what he was born to be. He doesn’t know what being a demigod means, and he most definitely doesn’t know how to perform to his potential. He’s walking into a trap; he’s wounded and dying, beaten by a girl.

And then he hears the voice. The voice that knows who he is and what he should be. The voice that tells him that things are about to change. The voice that tells him to touch the water and be healed. It’s a voice that carefully guides him towards performing his destiny to the best of his ability.

It’s the voice of his father, watching and loving and leading. It gave him advice when it was most needed and guidance when he was at a crossroads. There may be no face to accompany its sound, but it’s most definitely real. And Percy Jackson listens.

We have a father that we do not see. Unlike Percy’s father, he is not restrained. But He does watch us, and He does speak. He leads us towards our purpose, the destiny we were made for, with little nudges. Oftentimes it’s unheard, but then we’ll sense a voice. Usually we brush it off, completely ignorant that it is our Father, speaking to us. He wants to help us, wants to lead us, wants to be there for us. And He speaks.

All you have to do is listen. Listen, take heed, and obey.