Frodo's willingness to embark on a perilous journey nearly moved me to tears as I watched The Fellowship of the Ring this evening. "I will take it! I will take it! I will take the ring to Mordor! Though I do not know the way", declared the 3'6" Hobbit at Elrond's council.

One by one Elf, Man, Dwarf, Wizard and Hobbit step forward claiming their intent to journey with the Ring-Bearer and protect him at all costs. (insert Pippin's comic relief, "Where are we going?") Just as no two snowflakes are alike so the personalities and motivations of each of these individuals are different.

So much responsibility is put on the Ring-Bearer. He has to make decisions on topics he knows nothing about. Frodo, whose race is the most ignorant of the widely wicked world, and are perhaps the most innocent creatures that dwells in Middle Earth, takes the responsibility upon himself to destroy an object connected to the greatest evil known to the race of men, hobbits, dwarves, etc. (Elves are exempt as they have been around since the creation of Middle Earth, and They have known other great evils.)

In Moria
Frodo: I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.
Gandalf: So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world, Frodo, besides the will of evil. Bilbo was meant to find the ring in which case you were also meant to have it, and that is an encouraging thought.
The dialogue immediately preceding this is also powerful.

In a way Tolkien dissects mankind into different categories and assigns different attributes to the different races in this epic tale. While no race is perfect, some seem more apt to make terribly hurtful decisions, while others are more pure.

Elves-Fair, immortal unless killed, wisest of the inhabitants of Middle Earth. In all fairness, the Lord of the Rings does not highlight the potential elves have to do evil. One would have to read The Silmarillion. While elves are present and greatly needed in LOTR they do not have a leading role. This is not their tale.

Men-There is the line of Numenor, the line of the Kings known for living up to 200 years. Aragorn is the only one left of this line. Then, I suppose, you have the rest of mankind including the Stewards from which Boromir descends. Man desires power. As Galadriel informs us, "And nine...nine rings were gifted to the race of Men...who above all else, desire power."

Dwarves-Greedy and stubborn. "The dwarves delved too greedily and too deep. You know what they awoke in the darkness of Khazad-dum... shadow and flame."~Saruman.

Hobbits-Innocent and unassuming. They farm, love to eat and smoke pipe weed, and know little to nothing of what goes on in the outside world. Likewise, few know that Hobbits exists.

Maiar-Numerous being though we only meet three in LOTR. Sarumon, Gandalf and Sauron. In the book J.R.R. Tolkien: Architect of Middle Earth I read that Tolkien admitted to Edmund Fuller that "Gandalf is an angel". If Gandalf is an angel the other two must be angels, also. Though they fell. Sauron was Melkor's servant, and Sarumon followed in Sauron's footsteps years later.---Gandalf has great power. There are obstacles for him to overcome, the Balrog of Morgoth a.k.a. Melkor is one example, but most of the time he doesn't seem to exhibit his full might. He helps but ultimately the battle is for the races of Middle Earth to fight.

On earth, in our existence, man has great potential to do good and to do evil. Being created in the image of the Almighty we have been given much more than we will ever know. This "good" and potential "innocence" is represented by the Hobbits along with their "child-like faith. Wisdom is seen in the Elves and Gandalf. The Elves also have a love and care for creation, they seem to enjoy living in the woods. Man is fickle and fallen, prone to violence and easily swayed, BUT they have great potential and humility and some desire to do what was is right. The Dwarves are hardworking and work with their hands. They build elaborate underground cities, and mine great treasures.

I have barely scratched the surface of the symbolism and beauty in this tale. Tolkien was a brilliant man. His love for Story and for Faerie is evident and speaks to numerous people on many levels. He was truly a sub-creator. "We have come from God, and inevitably the myths woven by us, though they contain error, will also reflect a splintered fragment of the true light, the eternal truth that is with God. Indeed only by myth-making, only by becoming 'sub-creator' and inventing stories, can Man aspire to the state of perfection that he knew before the Fall. Our myths may be misguided, but they steer however shakily towards the true harbour, while materialistic 'progress' leads only to a yawning abyss and the Iron Crown of the power of evil." J.R.R. Tolkien

Time frozen
Standing still
Moment chosen
Morning chill

Presence lacked
Frost destroyed
Earth cracked
Formless void

Happiness missing
Hope deferred
Drawn-out wishing
Something heard

Beauty seen
Shadow betrayed
Sprouting green
Foundation made

Mane glimpsed
Closer now
Enemy's bane
Lion's how

Another step
Not alone
Given prep
Beloved stone

Discovered trail
Patures green
Forbidden gale
Goal seen

I don't know everything. I want to. I try to. I can't. In fact, I know little. Why do I think I need to know everything, and be able to answer every question? No one knows the future. We don't even know an hour from now, or even two minutes from now. I feel the weight of all of my questions. I try to take them all on at once. Confusion and a sense of helplessness overwhelms. I am learning, I hope, I don't have to have the answers. Perhpas someday I will be able to answer more of them than I am able to at this moment.

However, it is at this very moment I am deciding not be weighed down and ask the Lord to "examine me, and know my heart; test me, and know my thoughts. See if there is in me any hurtful way, and lead me along the eternal way" (ps. 139.23-24) and trust "ADONAI will fulfill His purpose for me. Your grace ADONAI, continues forever. Don't Abandon the work of Your hands!". (ps. 138.8)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1bSlS6OWTs
Come Thou Fount by Sufjan Stevens

The Shelter a.k.a. L'Abri

I was talking to my uncle at our family Christmas get together, and he started talking about something that sounded interesting, inviting, and right up my alley. Francis Schaeffer, a name I was not familiar with at the time, started L'Abri in 1955 in Switzerland where he and his family were living at the time.

After talking with him about it I started researching L'Abri. There are 11 locations worldwide, 2 of which are in the US. There are locations in England, Germany, Holland, Australia, a few other countries one of them being, can you guess? Canada! British Columbia, Canada no less!

I'm going! I sent them my deposit and plan on being there for the 2 month summer session. Half (4 hours) of the work day will be spent working doing stuff such as cooking, gardening, laundry, and other work to help keep up the property. The other half of the day will be spent listening to lectures, studying, etc. There will be time for discussion over meals and during other times. I am extremely excited!!

http://labri.org/canada/index.html This is the link. Check it out if you feel like it. The above pictures are from this site, and there are a lot more. The property is on an island about a 20 minute ferry ride from Vancouver. Absolutely beautiful from the pictures I've seen. A great place to take pictures with my new camera. :)

I didn't see this coming. I am really glad this is what I am going to be doing.

"The art that I create now is of a whole new realm. My purpose is not to create an escape, but to create expression that grounds me and the audience into our true existence, one that is rooted in the earth, and consequently, in our purpose here. We need to get out of ourselves, but not into someone or something else. We need to see the beauty of this world, the beauty of challenge and hardship and the Divine Providence that is happening every moment. It’s all blessing. We are living the good life."

Taken from Making Dignity My Art by Judy Ammar

http://www.chabad.org/theJewishWoman/article_cdo/aid/1408257/jewish/Making-Dignity-My-Art.htm

Does anything help the sting of pain and suffering in life? What about that dull feeling that makes it near impossible to partake in the other joys and wonderful things all around? This gray dullness being what is present when the penetrating sting isn't currently felt? The gray remains. Where is the happiness, joy, color and life in their lives? Why can't things 'get better'?

My 'getting better' isn't necessarily what the Lord considers getting better. If it were me I would take the pain away, but would I really? I would like to, but I believe that everything is from the Lord, therefore, everything has meaning. From the greatest joy to the deepest sorrow. Easy for me to say, right? I haven't myself personally experienced the pain of loss that so many in the world have, that people I love have. If everything is from Hashem, as I believe it is, I need not entertain the thoughts of making life 'easier'. This is hard as I still want to. I have to trust Him.

I love you.




‎"All the days of our lives we must continue to deepen our sense of mystery in order to be worthy of attaining faith. Callousness to mystery is our greatest obstacle"

God in Search of Man
Heschel

lactose intolerant