Simple acts of kindness and love.’ Gandalf

I have found it is the small things of ordinary folk that keeps the darkness at bay.

Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy resounds with the clash of great armies, powerful wizards and noble Lords and Ladies set against a backcloth of a monstrous struggle between the forces of light and darkness. But who does Tolkien , a committed life long Christian, choose as his main heroes ? A group of Hobbits a forgotten clan of peace loving half men lost in the swirling ocean of a world of men, wizards,elves, orcs and goblins. And yet in spite of all the powers of evil set against them through a mixture of courage, determination and loyalty they are able to make the difference and win the day. Tolkien I believe was making two fundamental points. First that in Gods creation it is the small , the meek ,the humble those who seek good that have true and lasting strength . Secondly that history is written by the acts of individuals and that we all have the power to influence its passage for good or bad.

Of course the first point is obvious God chose to come amongst us not as a great warrior or king but as a tiny child in a manger not surrounded by courtiers and servants  but by animals and shepherds. Throughout the bible the heroes whose decisions influence events for the good such as the Samaritan, the widow, tax collector, the father of the prodigal son are all ordinary folk who find the power to change lives for the better. Ultimately leading to the carpenters son crucified with criminals achieving the greatest good there has ever been and changing the world forever. History shows time and again , that God’s chosen order dictates that the greater the individuals desire for power and authority the more catastrophic and complete their destruction and the quicker their remembrance is expunged and reviled. Where does history place the memory of Hitler against that of a simple nun who gave her life in service of the destitute in the slums of Calcutta.

 ‘ all we have to do is decide what to do with the time that is given us.’ Gandalf

The good news is that we are not unimportant irrelevant cogs in a vast machine. God has made it clear that he has enabled each of us to be capable of changing the world for better . We are his partners not his pawns.

Koh Lanta, Thailand