JOURNEYS OF PROOF

Recently I saw a trailer for a new movie on the life of J.R.R. Tolkien~the famous fantasy writer who has drawn hordes of followers after reading Lord of the Rings, among other books.  I must confess I have a slightly skewed view of Tolkien--for one thing I am not a fantasy lover and for another, he is mentioned in the book I recently finished Becoming Mrs. Lewis.  A part of the crew of "The Inklings"~ a writing group he and C.S. Lewis were members of, he was not placed in a highly favorable light in the book.  Grumpy, arrogant, and disapproving come to mind when I remember his portrayal.  It is no secret I was no fan of Joy Lewis, but I did feel sorry for her when Tolkien treated her extremely shabbily.  In fairness, perhaps I have not been kind toward her either.  Color me convicted.



He looks like a sweet old man here~
looks can be deceiving.

The point of this post has nothing to do with Tolkien, but instead something in the movie trailer which piqued my interest.  



"It's about journeys---the journeys we take to prove ourselves."

I began to think of the journeys we take in life in an effort to prove ourselves--to others and most importantly to ourselves.  The trailer shows a scene from WW I ~ certainly men throughout the ages have stepped up and fought in wars for various causes.  Courage and bravery were necessary to take this journey--which could well result in an early end to your life.  In today's world, men and women step into the role of warrior and go to battle.  There is no longer mandatory service requirements for the armed forces, so if you wear a uniform~it is your choice.  A choice to test your bravery and grow your courage to defend a cause you believe in.



For women, motherhood is a journey of proof.  Little girls begin playing house and mommy from their very early days.  For some it seems they have the genetic disposition to be mothers.  That maternal need is great--so great thousands of dollars can be spent to produce the desired offspring.  We highly value motherhood and strongly desire to be the best mother possible.  Our ability to raise a child and launch them into the world is proof of our successful journey.



Typical Family?

There are all types and sorts of journeys of proof.  The first one well may be our launch into adulthood and the last one the final goodbye, with a proverbial shower of journeys in between.  High school diploma, college diploma, marriage, children, career, grandchildren, and retirement are all journeys we traverse in life, with many varieties interspersed.  Our lives are a succession of seasons in which we traverse numerous journeys.  Journeys meant to prove our success and give us value.  Value in the eyes of the world.

There is another journey--a spiritual journey--that is a life long journey.  We can choose to grow, stand still, or traverse by default as we grow by association and not effort.  The most important journey of our lives and yet we often give it so little time and effort.  A journey of learning who God is and drawing closer to Him through the process of sanctification.  Surely a journey of proof of how important God is to us is worthy of our best efforts?  It will not change how God feels about us, but it could change how we feel about ourselves and certainly draw us closer to Him.  What we pursue is what we value.  Where do you place your value?


11 Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.
I Chronicles 16:11

2 comments

  1. Yes, Lulu, our journey with God is the most important one we can ever take.
    Like you, I was surprised in the novel by Tolkien's dislike of Joy. He has always been one of my favorite authors; I read The Hobbit when I was eight! As my other favorite author is Lewis, this snub by "Tollers" was particularly personal for me. Anyway, thanks for sharing this trailer today, too. That's a movie I really want to see!
    Blessings!

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    Replies
    1. I agree. It was fascinating to see “Shadowlands” and get a glimpse of Lewis away from the pen. Perhaps, Toiken was not approving of Lewis’s reputation being questioned. Joy was certainly controversial at a minimum. This took away from the importance of what he was writing. Food for thought.
      Blessings, My Friend!

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