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The Inn of the Prancing Pony

 

The Inn of the Prancing Pony



Here in East Dunbartonshire we had the news earlier this week that we could not visit each other’s homes or indeed the home of anyone else in the country.  This has been followed today by other precautions for the nation as a whole.   Back in April/May many of us hoped that by this time we would have Covid 19 more under control, but it seems not to be. 

Some of you may have guessed from the title that I’m referring to Lord of the Rings in which Frodo is given instructions by Gandalf to take the ring and meet him at the Inn of the Prancing Pony.  This was a challenge enough in itself and far beyond the comfort zone of even an adventurous young hobbit like Frodo.  Yet he summoned his courage and with his friends made it there just escaping the clutches of the Black Riders.

Your heart goes out to him when, thinking he had completed his task, he discovers that Gandalf is not there and weary and afraid, despondent and helpless, he is not sure what to do next.   And then as many of you know another chapter in the journey begins, a Ranger joins them and another set of dangers are overcome and he finally makes it to Rivendell where he hopes his task will be completed.  And of course it is not and so the story continues. One of Tolkien’s themes is this growing awareness of Frodo of the nature of the task he has undertaken and that the end of it seems to ever recede and even until the last minute we are left unsure whether he will be able to carry it through.

I hope we are far beyond the Prancing Pony stage of our own Covid 19 journey.  However, as we go into an uncertain autumn and beyond, Frodo’s story is a salutary lesson that it is best to focus on the task and road immediately before us.   We should not make too many assumptions about what lies out of sight, nor to overly worry about things we just cannot know.   ‘Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof’ is the old King James Bible verse that has become a well-known saying in our English language.  This is balanced though by the previous half of the verse (in a more modern translation) where Jesus says ‘Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself’.

Each day remains a gift to us that needs to be treasured and valued as it is, not neglected and taken for granted because we are focusing on what we are not able to do, or what we have lost, or may still lose.  Those facing death are our great teachers in this.

Yesterday morning I read two moving and inspiring articles in the Guardian which can be found here:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/apr/02/terminal-cancer-lockdown-death

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/sep/07/terminal-cancer-live-cancer-life-death

Elliot Dallen who wrote the articles died of cancer on September 7that age 31.   He too had had hopes that were dashed, plans he had to let go of, but he had made peace with this.   I want to end with the five points he had learned about living well and focusing on what is immediately in front of us:

1.       The importance of gratitude

2.       A life if lived well is long enough

3.       It’s important to be vulnerable and let yourself connect to others

4.       Do something for others

5.       Protect the planet.

 

Towards the end he writes this: In a situation that is pretty new for most of my loved ones and friends (I am yet to meet anyone I grew up with who has had to deal with cancer or a similar chronic illness at my age), it has been amazing watching them all rise to the challenge. I’m not sure if it’s just that I know a high proportion of amazing people (possible) or if most human beings have this capacity for connecting and recognising what’s truly important (very likely).

May you connect with others, recognise what is truly important and surprise yourself with how far you travel on the road in the months ahead.  Remember the African saying I have given before  If you want to travel fast travel alone, if you want to travel far, travel together.

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