This is my first visit to your blog, and I’m enraptured! You made me cry with this thought because it expressed my own thoughts better than I could have: “It has reminded me of the valor required of the servants of Christ, and the futility of any campaign waged against the victory He has already secured. It has made me long to throw my hat in the ring for Beauty and Truth and Goodness, not only for the sake of this tired, hurting old world, but because I believe in that which is to come.”

And I collect blue transferware too.

Thank you! I’ll be back!

“…and Jack on Aslan’s back.
We’ll sing His glory
Around those two: One Love-truth
Old World will give one final ‘crack!’
Our hearts could not be lighter.”

What joyful meetings and reunions are in store–thank you for the reminder.

And congratulations on your daughter’s upcoming wedding! How exciting!! Blessings on your New Zealand adventure!

I very much enjoyed your post – you left a lot of of food for thought. The scene with the four back home at the Green Dragon was not lost on us in the Lenz household. It is bittersweet.

There’s a poignant scene in the movie that gets me every time – the one when Frodo wakes up in Rivendell for the second time, with Gandalf standing over him. They gaze at one another, then laugh for joy. Enter the rest of the companions for a marvelous reunion.

Watching this scene one day, I felt the Lord impress upon me the joy of seeing Him face to face one day, the Ancient of Days shaking His head and laughing, rejoicing over us as it were, us laughing along with Him, a mixture of awe, relief, and wonder. Seeing Christ our Lord and the Holy Spirit face to face. Meeting those who planted a seed in our hearts that led us home. Greeting those into whose hearts we planted a seed who made it home.

In that final scene when Sam comes through the door, dressed in white, the look that he and Frodo share makes me think on those with whom we stand shoulder to shoulder fighting the good fight.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1

P.S. My daughter Joy lives and works in New Zealand. She’s engaged to be married to a young man who pastors a church on the North Island. We will be traveling there in June.
Looking forward to a wedding in the land of Hobbits!