Epic

The epic is my reality. The classic tale of good versus evil, journey and struggle, battles and wars, victory and triumph all resound within my heart as Truth---as eternity written on the hearts of men.
My husband and I have been watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I become so engaged in such films because it registers with something so deep inside. More than once, I have stopped during the movie, looked at Adam, and given my thoughts on a given scene. As Frodo and Sam journey through dangerous worlds to destroy evil once and for all, others elsewhere also wage war against the darkness. Elves and dwarves overcome their hatred, realizing that they are on the same side. Even the trees fight for good! Everything is living, and everyone has a part. Hobbits become key figures in the defeat of the enemy, Gandolf all the while patient with their folly, guiding them with wisdom and truth.
I use Tolkien’s classic story as one example. I am not obsessed with Tolkien, I am obsessed with my God that wrote the story in our reality. We are all a part of the adventure. We are all engaged in war somehow, and our King will one day stand in ultimate victory.
I drove into work this morning listening to worship music, quite honestly for the first time in a long time. My heart was overflowing to lyrics like, “I will not be silent. I will not be quiet anymore. Every ocean, every sea, every river, every stream, every mountain, every tree, every blade of grass will sing!” and, “Shout unto God with a voice of triumph! Shout unto God with a voice of praise! Shout unto God with a voice of triumph! We lift your name up!” Anthems of victory, of honor, of Truth, of praise to a King; our King; My king.
I began following Jesus nearly 6 six years ago. In many ways it seems longer, in many ways it’s gone by faster than I could have ever thought it would. Praise be to God that like Gandolf, He has allowed me to be a part of this journey, but He is ever so patient with my folly. Today, I press on.
Sam sums it all up: I know. It’s all wrong. By rights we shouldn’t even be here. But we are. It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? 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, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going, because they were holding on to something.