März 14, 2023

J. R. R. Tolkien - Finding Hope in the Darkness

When we hear the name ‘Tolkien” it tends to bring images of epic battles, beautiful elves, and well meaning hobbits- landscapes of unparalleled beauty and messages of hope and of a world longing for peace. Yet it was drafted in a place where you would expect none of those sentiments to be worth speaking of; during Tolkien’s time serving in WWII was when he took the world of the Hobbit and threw it into a new age. Out of the terror and seemingly endless battle that was happening in our own world, Tolkien wrote of hope and of goodness winning within his own. As the tale of the Fellowship continues through endless obstacles they are given advice for perseverance in the face of adversity that transcends the world of Hobbits into our own. In our increasingly uncertain world, I among many have found comfort in these words that speak of hope even within the most unfathomable darkness.

The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater.

“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo. "So do I," said Gandalf, "and 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 us.”

But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something.

That there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it’s worth fighting for.

Write your own pep talk for what you’ve been dreading- feel free to make it as dramatic or over the top as you like.

Slate Metric Cut Journal with "Little By Little, One Travels Far" J.R.R. Tolkien quote and Your Name Here engraving

Customize your own journal!

Authors: Anna Ratzburg & Colin Murdy

Sprache

Währung