We Are All Part of a Story: Lessons from the Lord of the Rings

-Lisa

The Lord of the Rings! A series by J.R.R Tolkien that I was afraid of at one point. I understood them to be a classic masterpiece, but thought that I would find the books too tedious to read. A couple years ago, I came across the most captivating, dramatized audiobook of it, and I was hooked! It turns out this epic high fantasy novel, set in the fictional world of Middle-Earth, is abundant with themes of friendship, bravery, and the struggle between good and evil, making it a deeply meaningful read.

I wanted to share a bit of my favorite excerpt. To preface, Frodo and Sam have been journeying for a long time and have been through many perils, near-death experiences, and unexpected encounters, and yet they have prevailed. They are nearing the mountain where they will take the ring to destroy it. As they eat a portion of their meager food supply and gather a little strength, they converse about their surroundings and reflect upon their journey so far:

“‘I don’t like anything here at all,’ said Frodo. … ‘But so our path is laid.”

‘Yes, that’s so,’ said Sam. ‘And we shouldn’t be here at all if we’d known more about it before we started. But I suppose it’s often that way. The brave things in the old tales and songs, Mr. Frodo: adventures, as I used to call them. I used to think that they were things the wonderful folks of the stories went out and looked for, because they wanted them, because they were exciting and life was a bit dull, a kind of a sport, as you might say.

But that’s not the way of it with the tales that really mattered, or the ones that stay in the mind.Folk seem to have been just landed in them, usually – their paths were laid that way, as you put it. But I expect they had lots of chances, like us, of turning back, only they didn’t. And if they had, we shouldn’t know because they’d have been forgotten. We hear about those as just went on – and not all to a good end, mind you; at least not what folk inside a story and outside it call a good end. You know, coming home, and finding things all right, though not quite the same… But those aren’t the best tales to hear, though they may be the best tales to get landed in! I wonder what sort of tale we’ve fallen into?

‘I wonder,’ said Frodo. ‘But I don’t know. And that’s the way of a real tale.’”

Long before this part of the journey, Gandalf said to Frodo “It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”

Frodo never imagined that he was daring or courageous enough to follow the path he was led on. He just took the next step and did the next right thing.

I used to think of stories as just stories. But the older I get, the more I am appreciating a good tale. In a well-written story, there can be so many relatable and encouraging concepts that resonate and open up new thoughts and ideas to us. I really appreciated this part of the story because sometimes in our own lives, the next step or the future can seem so unsure and frightening.

And that uncertainty can paralyze us and make us feel anxious–but there is hope. I have realized that even when hard things come our way, it’s not just about our comfort in life. There’s more for us here than just looking out for ourselves. We can find purpose and find ways to contribute to the world around us. Maybe there is a burden that is ours to bear–something really hard for us to do. How will we conduct ourselves in the face of such a challenge? What will our story be?  Frodo wouldn’t let Sam or anyone else bear the ring. He was the ringbearer. He understood that this was what he had been called to do. His good friend Sam supported him and found ways to help lighten the burden.

Through hard or uncertain times, we can learn to be courageous and resilient and trust that God is in the story. We can look at an adventure as not merely an escapade; but rather a transformative journey that shapes our soul, broadens our horizons, and grows our resilience. An opportunity!

After further discussion, Frodo and Sam came to the conclusion that the story never really ends. Someone else carries the torch, weaving tales beyond our reach, creating a story that echoes through time. We are all part of that story. 

You may also enjoy The Hobbit which is a prequel to The Lord of the Rings and gives you the backstory of how the rings came to be in the possession of a lowly, unsuspecting hobbit.

The Lord of the Rings Full Audiobook [#1 – The Fellowship of the Rings] by J. R. R. Tolkien [1/3]

The Hobbit and Lord of the Ring Box Set