A Taste of Catholic Fiction Part 8
The Best Stories Still Inspire... and there's a reason for that
Photo By: Flickr/renee.hawk
J.R.R. Tolkien probably couldn't have known that he'd change the world when he published The Lord of the Rings in 1954. But here it is, 65 years later, and 150 million copies have sold and an epic movie series was released. Amazon is even getting ready to make a show! So... why does this story stay with us? Well, because the lessons that J.R.R. Tolkien imparts are still relevant today. They still inspire our hearts toward something bigger.
"Some believe that it is only great power that can hold evil in check. But that is not what I've found. I found that it is the small things, everyday deeds by ordinary folk that keeps the darkness at bay." --Gandalf
No Ordinary Deed
Everything we do matters, and can affect change. The things we do in this life matter and echo into eternity. Do not take for granted the "little" things you do. For no act of love, no matter how small, is ever wasted. So hold open that door. Let that car in front of you in traffic. Say a little prayer for the person who annoys you. And some day you'll see that those "little" things mattered the most of all.
"Even the smallest person can change the course of the future." --Lady Galadriel
WE MATTER
All of us, at times, feel small, that we can't make a difference, or that we don't matter. And yet that couldn't be further from the truth. Think about how many lives you touch every day. Your kids, your parents, your friends, your family, your co-workers, that person at the grocery story, the Facebook friend. We don't know what a single smile or kind act can do. Sometimes... something we think is small changes the course of their world.
"There's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it's worth fighting for." --Samwise Gamgee
THERE'S ALWAYS GOODNESS
This world is a rough place. There is so much hatred, violence, and death. Reading the news can be overwhelming and depressing. But J.R.R. Tolkien reminds us that there is good in this world. There's good in humanity. There's good in us. God made this world and called it good, and we need to cling to that even when it's hard or even seems impossible. And more so than that, the goodness in this world is worth protecting and fighting for. And if sometimes you can't see the good in the world...then be it.
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About the Author
Lisa Mayer loves Jesus and his people very much. She takes to heart, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself."
She loves her husband Rich and her furbaby, Scooby. She loves her family and friends. She loves writing. In her free time, you'll find her curled up in her superhero pajamas binge-watching her favorite TV shows or movies, catching up on her reading list, or playing Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery. She loves bike-riding, adventures and traveling. She crosses something off my bucket list every year.
She’s a total nerd and not afraid to be different. She has anxiety and OCD and is a proud mental health warrior who wants to break the stigma of mental health.
She writes because she loves it, but most of all because she loves Jesus and her readers. She hopes her books will reflect who she is: someone who wants to inspire others and make a difference. She hopes they give you a serious case of the feels, and that they make you laugh. Most of all, she hopes they help you know just how much Jesus loves you.
She is the author of The Aletheian Journeys: The Arrow Bringer, which will be released by Write Integrity Press, LLC on 3-19-19.
links: www.lisarmayer.com
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