“It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going, because they were holding on to something. That there is some good in this world, and it’s worth fighting for.”
—Sam Gamgee, Lord of the Rings (JRR Tolkien)
What a lovely post for this world right now. Thank you. A benediction for this Sunday.
My favorite speech, from my favorite literary character. Thoughts of “What would Sam Gamgee do?” have inspired me in the past, to return to causes and loyalties that I had abandoned for “lost”. They were not lost. It was only my will to persevere that was flagging. Thanks for reminding me of my beloved Sam, and of my own best, though toughest, choices.
I’m so glad you liked this as much I did. I have read it over and over as a reminder of the need to find light in today’s darkness.