This Lent season, I am embarking on something new. Using the great “theologian” J.R.R. Tolkien’s texts The Lord of the Rings, we will explore the Fellowship’s journey and how our own journey through Lent shows similar themes. There are scripture references as well as parts of Tolkien’s texts that I encourage you to read (the Roman numerals are book numbers found in one of his three main works Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King, followed by chapter numbers). Each day, you’ll find daily reflections and scriptures here. The road goes ever, ever on!
March 10th: The Fellowship begins to make its way east. Pippin, stricken with curiosity by Saruman’s crystal sphere, looks into and sees a horrific sight. Gandalf is worried about what Pippin saw, and takes him to Minas Tirith in hopes of finding answers and to save the Fellowship from Sauron’s gaze. On our journeys, we may not fully understand what is happening. We may not be fully aware of what is going on or how to process it. God encourages us to keep on, and to put our trust in God. That all things will make sense and be in order in their own time. We must press on and look towards God’s wisdom. (Daniel 12:8-9) (The Two Towers III-11).
The narrative finally returns to Frodo and Sam. Frodo and Sam have made their way through various mountain sides and continue onto Mordor. They have run out of food and are hopeless. They encounter Gollum, who was in previous possession of the ring before Bilbo stole it. Gollum pledges his allegiance to the hobbits and to guide them to Mordor. We all have experienced that same hopelessness. We somehow find our way out of that, and it seems almost too good to be true. For our hobbits, we will soon discover this is the case. For us, however, we are not lost in hopelessness because of God. God fills us with hope so that we may experience peace. (Romans 15:13)(The Two Towers IV-1).
Pippin feels small among towering stone walls and ancient expectations. Yet small does not mean insignificant. Lent reminds us that faithfulness is not measured by size or status. God works through willing hearts. It’s not the size of one’s body that determines our value. It is the size of our hearts, our character. The way we carry ourselves. We are filled with something that sustains us, gives us true endurance.
Where do I feel small or unqualified?
How might God use my willingness anyway?
Prayer
Use even my small offerings for your greater purposes. Help me see that in the small, intentional acts and words, we can offer so much. Our greatness extends far beyond human limitations. May your glory come to fruition in only ways you can. Amen.