rites of passage

Are there any grown people anymore? Our modern cultures have rid themselves of most all rites of passage. This is not a good thing. Such rites give individuals a sense of who they are and who they are in relation to others. Think about wolves. Pups are, for rather obvious reasons, are not allowed to go on hunts with the rest of the pack until they are the proper age. At that time, the pup goes to the hunt and becomes a fully fledged member of the pack. Now look at the American culture. When is a boy supposed to be a man or a girl a woman? Most people never have the experience of becoming an adult, and therefore we suffer for it. Many meander in an endless uncertainty and self doubt. (There are some exceptions.) Even the military has rites of passage. After a grueling boot camp recruits become army soldiers or marines in a ceremony in their honor. Look at the Native American vision quests. A person went off into the wilds with nothing to find the purpose for their lives and the answers to their questions. Not to mention a guiding force. Thing is, one was not supposed to return until you had your vision. It could be a couple days. It could be months. The Massai people of Africa send their young people, desiring to be warriors, out and away form the village for an entire year to survive on their own. These rites test ones will, internal strength, character, psychical endurance, and intelligence, and they are necessary for a person. Even Jesus went into the wilderness for forty days fasting and praying. He confronted the devil with his temptations and won before he began his three year ministry. The Buddha had his time as well when he was sheltered from the storm by the cobra. In short, we should not hope to make a difference if we dare not test ourselves because we cannot succeed if we are never tested, and if we know we are safe and secure from failure, we are not truly tested.