It’s a gray Saturday afternoon, and thanks to a few rainy days, it’s too muddy for us to go do gypsy ministry, so we’re all sitting around in our sweatpants, munching on popcorn, sipping hot tea and watching Lord of the Rings. It’s been years since I’ve seen this movie, but apparently the thousand times I saw it then count for something, because I have it memorized when my team can’t read the subtitles and can explain what’s happening so we don’t really have to pay total attention. Useful, yeah? 😉
One of the reasons I love this movie is because it’s the epic tale of an adventure on which the fate of the world hangs. Good and evil, light and dark, life and death are all resting on the shoulders of the most unlikely of heroes, a hobbit with no skill or bravery to his name, but all of Middle Earth nevertheless looks to him to save them from the most malicious of all monstrosities. Luckily, Frodo is surrounded by a band of brothers who include real heroes, like Aragorn, the king in hiding who steps into his destiny and unites the scattered, divided, leaderless men and leads them into victory: an image of the of the splendor of men undimmed before the breaking of the world.
Ok, I may possibly be stealing quotes from the screenplay, but how can this not be the most epic thing on the planet when people speak like that?
You can’t watch a movie like this and walk away unchanged. I think one of the reasons I even ended up on this Race is because I longed for adventure, but more than adventure, I wanted a great battle where I could take evil head on and walk away victorious. As a child, it was all black and white to me: the good guys beat the bad guys in one fell swoop and then all head to the after party where they recount moments of glory and pat each other on the back as adoring fans gaze lovingly up at the returning conquerors.
Real life isn’t like that. Just as in Middle Earth, real life is watching people fight with their brothers, say goodbye to those they love, bury their children and still walk forward and lead their people into victory. Real life doesn’t end in a neatly tied package with a perfectly accented bow on top, and the celebrations mean so much more because the triumph is bittersweet, because there was something lost in the battle, and because the victory came at a price.
One of my favorite scenes from The Two Towers is an exchange between Aragorn and Eowyn as they prepare for the battle of Helm’s Deep. She catches him unaware with a sword, and when he expresses surprise at her skill with a blade, she replies:
“The women of this country learned long ago that those who cannot wield swords can still die upon them. I fear neither death nor pain.”
“What do you fear, my lady?”
“A cage. To stay behind bars until use and old age accept them and all chance for valor has gone beyond recall or desire.”
“You are the daughter of kings, a shield maiden of Rohan. I do not think that will be your fate.”
It is in this moment that Aragorn speaks truth to her. He doesn’t say the battle won’t be hard or that the sun will still be shining through her beautiful hair as she waltzes to success, but he reminds her that she will never be counted among those poor and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.
Sometimes I need this reminder. I need someone to say, “Natalie, you are the daughter of the King, a hand maiden of the Lord. You have been called to greatness that has nothing to do with your sword skills and everything to do with the blood of Christ over you and the Holy Spirit within you.”
Eowyn heard these words from Aragorn because she looked up to him, she respected him, he was older and more experienced but she had bested him with the sword, so for the moment, they were equals.
So here’s my question: who are these people in my life? Who are the people that I look up to, respect, those who have walked ahead of me but allow me to be an equal, even if only for the moment? If I’m being honest- if I’m not just posting perfectly thought out, spiritually deep, shallow but resolved issues- I have lots of those people at home, I don’t feel like I have any here. Maybe that’s something I need to change, maybe it’s a place where my team (all older than me) needs to step up to the challenge.
My other question is: do I believe this? Can I stare death and pain in the face without fear, can I walk into battles sure of my identity in Christ and confident that whatever happens, my fate is secured in His hands?
Can you?
Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant! Let it happen as you have said.” And the angel left her.
Luke 1:38
