“All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.”
(Aragorn’s Poem by Tolkien)
Last night we watched part of The Fellowship of the Ring with the kids. It was on TV and normally I wouldn’t let the kids watch it, but I changed the channel every now and then and told them to close their eyes at certain parts and finally turned it off when it seemed too much. But I wanted to watch it, because lately I’ve been meditating on this poem about Aragorn. In particular that part that says not all who wander are lost.
They resonate with me. It’s been a few months of wandering. I wasn’t expecting to wander, to suffer grief. It took me by surprise. We decided to move so quickly and everything happened so fast – it was right, correct, good. But as the dust settled, the reality of what I said yes to, the frustrations of figuring out marriage in a new place, of helping my children deal with loss – finally hit and I broke down. I am grieving. And there’s a big part of me that feels like I’m wandering through this season trying to find my footing.
But, in spite of the wandering, I’m not lost. I know who I am. I know what I’ve built my life on, I know we came here on purpose, and I trust God. The trusting God though is weird. I trust God, but I don’t always like what he’s doing or what he’s asking me to do, or give up, or let go of. He sees more, higher, broader – yes. But, I like having the pieces of the puzzle worked out beforehand. I like having my ducks in a row. And this new season of my life has shown me, is showing me that I have no idea what I’m talking about. My perfect little dreams are so small compared to God’s vision and purpose and hope for my family. And it’s in the yielding, the grieving, the staying despite the frustrations and disappointments, that life is worked out and dreams come to pass. It’s in the process…
Which part of the poem resonates for you?
Much Love,
Tina
How funny! I think you will see what I think of that quote when you open your holiday box.
I was moved by the following quote whilst watching The Hobbit last night:
“Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love. Why Bilbo Baggins? Perhaps because I am afraid, and he gives me courage.”
I love this quote! In fact, I’ll probably use it in the next few weeks. There’s a lot of wisdom in it. The small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay… I think another wise one said something to the effect that we are the salt of the earth, if we lose our saltiness we won’t be able to flavor anything. You are one of those people who’ve been consistently kind and loving for many years … who knows how much evil you’ve kept at bay!
Can’t wait for our holiday box! Lots of love…
I love this – “Not all who wander are lost”
Growing up all over the world, I felt lost. As I have grown up and gained perspective on my life, I’ve realized I was not lost but that God has a purpose for my wanderings.
I know God will weave this season of grief and make it beautiful.
Thank you for sharing the journey so openly with us!
Thank you for reading … and yes I feel a turning, a shifting, a release to be present here, to enjoy where I am and to let that which was, ebb into the past like the going out of the tide.
Much love,
Tina
“And it’s in the yielding, the grieving, the staying despite the frustrations and disappointments, that life is worked out and dreams come to pass. It’s in the process…”
AMEN! Well stated. I too came to these same conclusions during my journey through grief. (I write about them at my blog.) I am so happy to have found your blog. I lived in Seattle for graduate school and am a Missionary Kid who lived in Costa Rica. My dad grew up in Argentina with his missionary parents. I am sure we would have many things to talk about, and common life experiences.
I found you through eclecticwaters.com .
Blessings to you and yours during this season of waiting.
~jana
Hi Jana!
Thank you for commenting. I was just reading through your latest post and will comment on it. I have spent the last few days meditating on the story of Lazarus …
So glad we connected. I’m sure we would have a lot to talk about. I enjoyed Costa Rica when I was there. Your dad lived in Argentina with his missionary parents … that was many years ago, wasn’t it? Wow. You have a lot of heritage and investment in Latin America. Would love to connect. Would love to hear about your journey. You seem like an amazing person with a lot to offer.
Blessings to you too…
Tina
Oh, by the way, this is my favorite line:
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Now that I am on the other side of my grief, I can see His fire igniting in my soul from the ashes, and I can see His light springing from my heart’s shadows.
God is birthing in me a new calling and it is all because of the trials of this life that He has brought me through. I can now honestly say, crazy as it may seem, I am thankful for my grief and the pain of losing my only sibling, for I am now in a deeper, intimate relationship with Christ. I am thankful.
~jana
“…deep roots are not reached by the frost.”
The painful experiences of youth can become the taproot of a deeper life, rich with wisdom, when we continue to ask Christ for His perspective. You have deep roots, Tina, and you continue to put them even deeper by choice. The “frost” of your current situation sounds extremely difficult and taxing but that frost is causing your deep roots to go even deeper than you would have chosen. Keep you chin up and a Big hug to you! You are in my prayers. Keep picking up the pen. I look forward to reading your blog!
~Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
…for me recognition of strength rises up in me when I evaluate my roots. If they are set deep in truth and righteousness they are free from freezing up, (in all aspects of my life, fear has no power). For the roots are what help the branches thaw allowing it to bear healthy fruit for the harvest if well conditioned and fertilized in the word. Hope stands close by.
~From the ashes a fire shall be woken
…this reminds me of huge forest fires; they happen often in Eastern Wa. and of course all over the world…It seems so harsh, so sad to lose all that land, hundreds of acreage and thriving habitats to ash…and yet the nutrients that help to build a renewed and thriving forest once again are just that, the enriched ash in the soil that helps to strengthen the forest to it’s glory it once was, restored perhaps even stronger, causing one to have to see it to believe it, and see the irony in it all. That burning fire is refining whatever comes into its path….that fire awaken in me by the Holy Spirit can bring Glory to the Father who so deserves the credit!
~Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
…..Life anew. The word Renewed says so much to me….A broken spirit can be renewed, while challenged to rise above the bruises, renewal brings peace to the soul, renewal brings oxygen, renewal gives rest, renewal brings a new perspective, a much needed para-dime shift.