“What To Do With The Time Given To Us” (Gandalf)

It’s been about 6 weeks since my last BLOG. While I’m still uncertain about plans for future writings, I do have a sense that maybe I should occasionally publish a BLOG. So, here we go.

To me the most dramatic scene in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings Trilogy is when Gandalf fights the Balrog on the bridge at Khazad Dum. It’s a fierce battle with Gandalf using every bit of his power and his energy to finally defeat this monstrous evil…. commanding, ”YOU SHALL NOT PASS”. You can see the relief on Gandalf’s exhausted face as the defeated Balrog falls into the pit. But just as we all begin to take a deep breath, a final strike of the enemy’s whip snags Gandalf’s ankle and he’s unable to hold on…and falls into the bottomless pit. Despair shows on his face, on the faces of the “Fellowship”, and on the faces of the readers. At the very last moment, defeat snatches victory from our grasp. 

We can all probably think of other examples of where we finally achieved victory after a long and desperate struggle, only to see it pulled from our grasp at the last moment. It’s a terrible feeling…discouragement and even despair….. “I have nothing left to give…it’s over.”  Even in our walk with Christ, at times we may find our selves  having lost an important battle after a desperate struggle. Now what ??? 

What are the options? Well as always, there is only one option. Remember the big controversy over the Eucharist. “After this many of his disciples drew back and no longer walked with him. Jesus said to the Twelve, “Will you also go away?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”(John 6:66-68)

So for us, in the midst of trials and tribulations and disappointments, our response must always be, “Lord you have the words of everlasting life …. I’m going with you…I’m going to follow you no matter what.” And as we continue to put one foot in front of the other in following the Lord, victory is assured…victory is snatched out of the hands of defeat…resurrection out of the hands of death. 

Frodo and the fellowship of the ring continued on their mission despite their terrible disappointment in losing Gandalf at Khazad Dum. Frodo and Sam never saw Gandalf the White until the very end of the book, when they had finished their mission. But what joy as they did see him again.

So, let’s keep fighting the good fight of faith, despite disappointments and loss. The battle is the Lord and in the end, he is victorious. On that eternal day, every tear will be wiped away…every sorrow and disappointment will disappear. And that is very good news.