The Lord of the Rings is an amazing trilogy. It was written by JRR Tolkien who, according to Tom Shippey, as a Christian, wrote an essentially pagan myth. This myth is powerful in its ability to portray the various facets of human nature as it interacts with a believable spiritual reality. To the extent that it is true in its portrayal, I think that trilogy glorifies God. I think the work of that author does so amazingly well and on levels that are still beyond me.

Recently, I have been meditating on words quoted from the movie and used in a men's conference. They are the words of Elrond to Aragorn (son of Arathorn) on the eve of the battle before the walls of Minas Tirith. He says, "Put aside the ranger. Become who you were born to be." The men's conference called us as men to do the same. We were called to put aside our lonely, self-focused ways and become men of community and men who are focused on bringing good to our world.

I have been ruminating on the ways I have and have failed to put aside those ways. "How can I become king?" How can I become the great man I was, obviously, meant to be? Then I read, NT Wright's article in the Sept/Oct 2012 edition of Relevant magazine. Wright wrote about the five mistakes we as Christians often make when considering what to do with the recorded life and works of Christ before his passion and death. As I finished reading the article Wright's line struck me, "In fact, the four Gospels are trying to say this is how God became king."

"this is how God became king."

If the story of Aragorn within the Lord of Rings trilogy is a good portrayal of both human nature and spiritual realities, then in that story, I am not Aragorn (son of Arathorn). Instead, I am either Gimli or Legolas. Jesus, for me, is Aragorn. He put aside his own independence. He took on the responsibility of this "Middle Earth." He won the victory. He became king. I am a friend and fellow traveler, who, in a sense, shares in his suffering and will one day, in a very real sense, fully share in his victory and glory.

Festival of the Nations

It has been awhile since I last posted. In that time, I have moved, shifted schools, and job sites. St. Louis is a beautiful with so many things that glorify God. The Boys and Girls Club of Greater St. Louis (BGC) is a non-religious organization that provides kids with a safe place to play, learn, and build positive relationships with adults and their peers. This organization has been in St. Louis since 1967 and has positively affected the lives of thousands of children and their families. Family is a fundamental institution to any society or cultures. BGC is an organization that helps families resist modern pressures that fragment family relationships and stunt positive mental and psychological growth in teens. I believe that this organization glorifies God.

My favorite annual event in St. Louis has come and gone. The Festival of the Nations! For two days, cultural organizations come together to share their food, their dances, and their art with each other. One day you can carry a Filipino drink, corn beef and cabbage from the Highlands, and Ethiopian injerah all to one lunch table and devour it. On that same day you can hear an Indian dobro, see traditional German dancing, and watch Brazilian capoeira dancers “fight” each other. It makes for an absolutely awesome two days. My personal favorite was hearing Portuguese bossa nova. The music is deeply moving.

The Festival of the Nations is my favorite reminder of Revelation 7:9. One day, we will stand before the throne and the Lamb, just as we are. If God looks forward to us and our culture, why shouldn’t we seek the same now?