Hi everyone! I thought that today was high time I explained why Anna Katherine and I chose the name for this blog after Tolkien's books...and while we're at it, I am going to let you see some of his artwork.

I first read Tolkien's Lord of the Ring's trilogy when I was thirteen, and have been enamored with all things LOTR since. Beyond that, Tolkien's books have much that we can learn from. The poem 'The Road Goes Ever On And On', tells a story of a person, (or hobbit) that has a long life ahead of him, and is following a road that continues ahead. This person has many choices to make, and many paths to choose from. He speaks continuely about his feet going on down any old path, and how he never knows where they are going to go next.

This is an interesting concept to consider. On one hand, we could suppose that Tolkien was saying that we have no choice in where our lives go; or we can decide that he was speaking of the choices we must make each and every day which will influence our entire lives and those that come after us. There is nothing in the Bible that would give us to assume that we cannot choose our own paths through life. Rather, we read that God gave us a free will to do as we chose, but we must suffer the consequences for our actions, whether good or bad.

 

 

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with weary feet,

Until it joins some larger way,

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

 

The Road goes ever on and on

Out from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

Let others follow it who can!

Let them a journey new begin,

But I at last with weary feet

Will turn towards the lighted inn,

My evening-rest and sleep to meet.  

 

 

-Marissa