I made my comments regarding Donna’s a short bit ago and began exploring what you write… like an arrow so sharp you do not even feel it pierce your heart. Yes! You our into words what I’ve experienced and feel in visceral depth. Cheers, Jared!
Your reflections bring to mind the words of Isaiah 2 about beating swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks. I think this echoes the work of restoration and renewal that goes on after the conflict is ended. The necessary stability of peace is required for the flourishing to follow but there is still a lot of hard work in tending and rebuilding that then has to take place. Appreciate your insights.
Thank you. But it also begs another essay, Jared. What was Frodo's pain? That wound that would not allow him to return to the Shire and rebuild his life? Was it his faith? Broken by evil? Was it when Sam almost betrayed him by taking the Ring, thinking Frodo dead? Was is the early wound from the Nazgul? Frodo has a pureness of heart and thus a tender and sensitive soul. The world can seem almost impossible to live in for people like that. It takes an awful lot of silence and beauty and prayer to navigate a cruel world.
I take it as a little of all of that. It was physical, but I think the journey left too big of an indention on his soul and that he was never really going to recover from it, as in life.
No person is ever entirely isolated, even if he feels he is. Events do effect changes in all those comprising the group, even if that group is ignored or deplored. And the changes wrought in each person will always be present, even if the changes are ignored. Some bright souls will be able to turn these changes to make those around them live in better surroundings or to enable decent lives for all in the future.
So so true. Beautifully written!
Thanks, Chris.
I made my comments regarding Donna’s a short bit ago and began exploring what you write… like an arrow so sharp you do not even feel it pierce your heart. Yes! You our into words what I’ve experienced and feel in visceral depth. Cheers, Jared!
Thanks Michael. I always pray my words might encourage others.
Your reflections bring to mind the words of Isaiah 2 about beating swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks. I think this echoes the work of restoration and renewal that goes on after the conflict is ended. The necessary stability of peace is required for the flourishing to follow but there is still a lot of hard work in tending and rebuilding that then has to take place. Appreciate your insights.
Wow, that’s really good.
“Salvation is the turning of the tide instead of the end of the work.”
This has been an important discovery for me. A lovely reflection, thanks.
Wow, thank you. I always pray that what I write might be encouraging.
When I read your words," He makes us walk home slowly", I broke into tears.
This whole piece resonates so deeply with the brokenness in my life, my family, my very vision of what I hoped my love would have given birth to.
Every word you wrote is telling my life back to me.
I pray the Lord would comfort you. So grateful the words were able to minister.
Thank you. But it also begs another essay, Jared. What was Frodo's pain? That wound that would not allow him to return to the Shire and rebuild his life? Was it his faith? Broken by evil? Was it when Sam almost betrayed him by taking the Ring, thinking Frodo dead? Was is the early wound from the Nazgul? Frodo has a pureness of heart and thus a tender and sensitive soul. The world can seem almost impossible to live in for people like that. It takes an awful lot of silence and beauty and prayer to navigate a cruel world.
I take it as a little of all of that. It was physical, but I think the journey left too big of an indention on his soul and that he was never really going to recover from it, as in life.
No person is ever entirely isolated, even if he feels he is. Events do effect changes in all those comprising the group, even if that group is ignored or deplored. And the changes wrought in each person will always be present, even if the changes are ignored. Some bright souls will be able to turn these changes to make those around them live in better surroundings or to enable decent lives for all in the future.
"No person is ever entirely isolated." Amen to that.