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Lent: Day 18
Mar. 7th, 2015 07:46 pm
Lent: Day 16
Mar. 5th, 2015 08:24 pmToday here is an excerpt from Tolkien's Ordinary Virtues: Exploring the Ordinary Virtues of The Lord of the Rings by Mark Eddy Smith, on the virtue of simplicity.
An example of Hobbits' maddening simplicity comes in the Birthday Party that opens the tale. All the Bracegirdles, Hornblowers, Proudfoots, and other clans gather, not so much to honor Bilbo as to take advantage of feasting for free, enjoying spectacular fireworks and enduring the inevitable Speech. They do not understand, not do they care to learn, the part that Bilbo played in defeating a dragon or in bringing about peace between Dwarves, Wood-elves, and the Men of the Lake. Few in the Shire even believe his tales; they think him eccentric at best and completely cracked at worst. It is hard to be patient with such folk.
Strength is not created by adversity; it is merely awakened by it. The hobbits are defended on many fronts by more sophisticated people who do not believe that simplicity is a sign of weakness. As Aragorn says at the Elrond's Council: 'If simple folk are free from care and fear, simple they will be.' (I:299). But this protection does not diminish the possibility that the most heroic deeds may be accomplished, or at least attempted, by the very same simple folk that are thus sheltered....
If simplicity is a virtue, then living simple lives and cherishing simple pleasures are all that is required for our lives to have value.We need not feel guilty when we suspect we should be doing more for God's kingdom, for when he needs us he will call us, and until then we can be content to husband our strength, put down roots and enjoy the good things that have been given us. This is not to say that we shouldn't seek to improve ourselves or minister to those around us, only that limiting our efforts to our immediate family and neighbors is sufficient until our calling has been revealed.
When God does call us, it may be to a journey of danger and terror, with the possibility of no return, or it may be the simpler danger and terror of confronting a boss whose practices seem a little shaky. The most simple among us are not safe from these possibilities. On the other hand, it may be that our calling is simply to live well in the midst of the community we were born in. This is not to be despised. The tale of Frodo and his friends may give us hope that we will be given the strength and the help we need to accomplish whatever task is set before us.
An example of Hobbits' maddening simplicity comes in the Birthday Party that opens the tale. All the Bracegirdles, Hornblowers, Proudfoots, and other clans gather, not so much to honor Bilbo as to take advantage of feasting for free, enjoying spectacular fireworks and enduring the inevitable Speech. They do not understand, not do they care to learn, the part that Bilbo played in defeating a dragon or in bringing about peace between Dwarves, Wood-elves, and the Men of the Lake. Few in the Shire even believe his tales; they think him eccentric at best and completely cracked at worst. It is hard to be patient with such folk.
Strength is not created by adversity; it is merely awakened by it. The hobbits are defended on many fronts by more sophisticated people who do not believe that simplicity is a sign of weakness. As Aragorn says at the Elrond's Council: 'If simple folk are free from care and fear, simple they will be.' (I:299). But this protection does not diminish the possibility that the most heroic deeds may be accomplished, or at least attempted, by the very same simple folk that are thus sheltered....
If simplicity is a virtue, then living simple lives and cherishing simple pleasures are all that is required for our lives to have value.We need not feel guilty when we suspect we should be doing more for God's kingdom, for when he needs us he will call us, and until then we can be content to husband our strength, put down roots and enjoy the good things that have been given us. This is not to say that we shouldn't seek to improve ourselves or minister to those around us, only that limiting our efforts to our immediate family and neighbors is sufficient until our calling has been revealed.
When God does call us, it may be to a journey of danger and terror, with the possibility of no return, or it may be the simpler danger and terror of confronting a boss whose practices seem a little shaky. The most simple among us are not safe from these possibilities. On the other hand, it may be that our calling is simply to live well in the midst of the community we were born in. This is not to be despised. The tale of Frodo and his friends may give us hope that we will be given the strength and the help we need to accomplish whatever task is set before us.
B2MEM add a prompt day!
Mar. 4th, 2015 09:16 amOver at ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
b2memsupport, ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
zhie has declared Wednesday "Add-a-Prompt Day"!
So if you are participating in B2MeM, go over and add a new prompt! If you haven't taken part so far, know that you are given 15 farthings to spend on prompts and claims, just for attending the Faire! The market stalls can be found here. Just go to the appropriate venue and post your prompt!
Here's an extra challenge for my hobbit-friends: There aren't nearly enough prompts in The Shire! Even if you don't think you will have time to write anything yourself, go over and leave a bunny there! You can leave up to 15 prompts before you run out of Faire Farthings, and you can always earn more by reviewing any of the 2015 stories atb2mem: one comment=1 farthing!
b2memsupport, zhie has declared Wednesday "Add-a-Prompt Day"!So if you are participating in B2MeM, go over and add a new prompt! If you haven't taken part so far, know that you are given 15 farthings to spend on prompts and claims, just for attending the Faire! The market stalls can be found here. Just go to the appropriate venue and post your prompt!
Here's an extra challenge for my hobbit-friends: There aren't nearly enough prompts in The Shire! Even if you don't think you will have time to write anything yourself, go over and leave a bunny there! You can leave up to 15 prompts before you run out of Faire Farthings, and you can always earn more by reviewing any of the 2015 stories at
b2mem: one comment=1 farthing!
Lent 2015: Day 13
Mar. 2nd, 2015 06:25 pmOne of the Christmas gifts I got this year was Walking with Frodo, "a devotional journey through The Lord of the Rings", which teases out some of the lessons we can learn from the characters' journey. I thought a little portion of this devotional was appropriate for today:
Because Frodo is humble, he is willing to serve. He knows he doesn't have all the answers. He isn't even sure he'll accomplish the task. But he's willing, even though it breaks his heart to think of all that will be lost, knowing he might never, ever return to life as it was before he left the Shire. Little does he imagine the glorious outcome of his actions--the great celebration "at the end of all things," when Middle-earth is restored and the true King is enthroned in Gondor and the people rejoice in victory!"
"The apostle
Peter wrote (from personal experience "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." (1 Peter: 5-6)"
"This is the lesson of Frodo, making his way into the heart of Sauron's kingdom: Humble service is the key to victory."
Because Frodo is humble, he is willing to serve. He knows he doesn't have all the answers. He isn't even sure he'll accomplish the task. But he's willing, even though it breaks his heart to think of all that will be lost, knowing he might never, ever return to life as it was before he left the Shire. Little does he imagine the glorious outcome of his actions--the great celebration "at the end of all things," when Middle-earth is restored and the true King is enthroned in Gondor and the people rejoice in victory!"
"The apostle
Peter wrote (from personal experience "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." (1 Peter: 5-6)"
"This is the lesson of Frodo, making his way into the heart of Sauron's kingdom: Humble service is the key to victory."
Lent 2015: Day 12, Second Sunday in Lent
Mar. 1st, 2015 05:14 pmPsalm 22:22-31 (KJV)
22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
23 Ye that fear the Lord, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.
25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.
26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
28 For the kingdom is the Lord's: and he is the governor among the nations.
29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.
30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.
Leonard Nimoy: some memorable moments
Feb. 27th, 2015 09:59 pmOf course he was most famous as Mr. Spock, but he played many really good roles.
I loved him as Paris in Mission Impossible. This scene is fun to watch, as he is acting with Mark Lennard who played his father Sarek in ST.
He was in a lot of Westerns. Usually (though not always) he played Native Americans or Mexican Americans. I saw this episode of Gunsmoke not too long ago.
And here are some cameos:
The Simpsons...
The Big Bang theory...
Here he is, stumping the panel on What's My Line?
And who can forget his singing career. Here's his biggest hit! ;)
Finally, I came across this tonight, in which he speaks of his Yiddish background and his childhood:
I loved him as Paris in Mission Impossible. This scene is fun to watch, as he is acting with Mark Lennard who played his father Sarek in ST.
He was in a lot of Westerns. Usually (though not always) he played Native Americans or Mexican Americans. I saw this episode of Gunsmoke not too long ago.
And here are some cameos:
The Simpsons...
The Big Bang theory...
Here he is, stumping the panel on What's My Line?
And who can forget his singing career. Here's his biggest hit! ;)
Finally, I came across this tonight, in which he speaks of his Yiddish background and his childhood:
Lent: Day 9
Feb. 26th, 2015 03:56 pm"Live in faith, knowing that far more than rewarding and longer enduring than monuments, fame or fortune, are the acts of love, kindness and consideration that The Almighty privileges each of us to perform every day of our lives." Robert E. B. Fielder
Back to Middle-earth Month
Feb. 25th, 2015 10:47 pmBack to Middle-earth month begins next week, but the preliminaries have already started! You can post or claim prompts now at b2mem! Every person who participates is given 15 "faire farthings" to spend at the Middle-earth Marketplace, the Tharbad's Greenway Spring Faire! You can spend one farthing to post a prompt, and one to claim a prompt, and earn one by reviewing stories when they begin to be posted. There are also other ways to earn more farthings!
I've already spent five of mine on the following:
Song prompt; the Sundering Sea
Dale and Erebor, toymakers for Bilbo's party
Rohan; Eomer and Merry write letters
The Shire; young Bilbo and his family
Tol Eressëa; who do the hobbits meet there?
More than one person can claim the same prompt! Just remember claiming costs you a farthing, too. You can find out all about it, and all the other rules at the comm!
b2mem! Every person who participates is given 15 "faire farthings" to spend at the Middle-earth Marketplace, the Tharbad's Greenway Spring Faire! You can spend one farthing to post a prompt, and one to claim a prompt, and earn one by reviewing stories when they begin to be posted. There are also other ways to earn more farthings!I've already spent five of mine on the following:
Song prompt; the Sundering Sea
Dale and Erebor, toymakers for Bilbo's party
Rohan; Eomer and Merry write letters
The Shire; young Bilbo and his family
Tol Eressëa; who do the hobbits meet there?
More than one person can claim the same prompt! Just remember claiming costs you a farthing, too. You can find out all about it, and all the other rules at the comm!
Lent: Day 6
Feb. 23rd, 2015 01:57 pmGod, be my resting place
and my protection
In hours of trouble,
defeat and dejection.
May I never give way to
self-pity and sorrow,
May I always be sure of
a better tomorrow.
May I stand undaunted
come what may
Secure in the knowledge
I have only to pray,
And ask my Creator
and Father above
To keep me serene in His
Grace and His love.
~Helen Steiner Rice~
I just posted a new story at SoA. It's a tribute to Fiondil, and it features one of his OCs in the "Elf Academy" series and Legolas: Gabriella's Story
