So, I decided this summer that I would actually read J.R.R. Tolkien's trilogy, The Lord of the Rings. (One of the many things I decide at the last minute I want to do before I turn 30.) So, while I've been reading it, anytime I find a quote worth remembering or applying to my life, I write it down on my phone. (Yup, I can use a quote from anything as something applicable to life.) So, back in July when I first started I found a quote by Gandalf the Grey that I really enjoyed.
"Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends."
For those people who are thinking about what a nerd I am and don't know what this is in regards to, it's Gandalf talking to Frodo about Gollum and Gollum's obsession with the one ring. Frodo, thinking that Gollum was a trouble maker and horrible creature thought that Bilbo (his uncle) should have killed Gollum when he had the chance. And hence, this quote. I really like that quote. It makes me think of all those times in our lives when we make judgement calls on so many things. (Like yes, Charles Manson should get the death penalty, or no I would never let my child eat spaghetti for breakfast...) God is always telling us that we should remove the plank from our own eye before we get the splinter out of our neighbors (my quick translation), but how often do we really do that? I'm not saying that I'm perfect and never make judgement calls--I do it all the time without even thinking about it...I'm just saying that maybe we should stop and think before we do.
So, while I don't have any profound thoughts (or have found any allegory or reference to the Bible like people keep telling me is in these books), I just thought I'd share. Maybe when I've finished the books, I'll know but for now, I just keep following Frodo and his journey to destroy the one ring and looking for great life applications.
