Tolkien's Ordinary Virtues : Exploring the Spiritual Themes of the Lord of the Rings

The mere recollection of [this phrase] sends chills down my spine. I have been reading this tale since I was twelve years old, taking it from my shelf every year or so and returning to Middle Earth, drinking it in, pulling sustenance from it the way a tree draws earth with its roots. I have never grown weary of it. As I get older, and learn more of what sort of person I am, and continue sojourning to the rich soil of the Shire and the high towers of Minas Tirith, I discover that many of my notions of what is good and right and noble in this world have their source in that one. The Lord of the Rings offers us the most essential lessons in living. Here we discover ordinary virtues, like generosity, pity, hospitality and rest. We meet extraordinary people, like Bilbo, Gandalf, Tom Bombadil and Glorfindel. We learn about the roots of destruction in pride and betrayal. And we find the ingredients for success, such as community and sacrifice. God calls each of us - even the most simple - to a journey. We may be asked to leave behind everything we have grown dependent on. And when this is the case, the tale of Frodo and his friends offers hope that we will be given the strength and the help we need to overcome every obstacle and defeat every foe. This book will help you find the way.